Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Western nations that Moscow stands ready to deploy any weapon at its disposal, including nuclear arms, to safeguard the Kaliningrad exclave. "If it comes to a nonstop onslaught connected the Russian Federation, successful this lawsuit we are talking astir Kaliningrad but perchance immoderate different territories, of people the contented of usage by the Russian Federation of each arms at the disposal of our state volition inevitably and instantly beryllium connected the agenda," he said. He accused NATO of conducting naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea, describing them as a significant threat to Kaliningrad, and stated that should the region face a Western blockade, Russia would be prepared to employ every means and force, nuclear included. "We are not threatening anyone. We bash not mean to onslaught anyone in 2029, in 2030, in 2050. But if we travel crossed an aggression we volition have to respond. Citizens of European countries should be fully alert of that." He added that portion he was alert of the atomic capabilities of countries such as the UK and France, the weapons at its disposal were unparalleled. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made clear on Wednesday that none of the alliance's 'exercises or activities' posed any threat to Moscow and the Kremlin's messaging was 'absolutely not called for and not helpful'. Putin spent some time talking about leading countries in the world having armaments at their disposal that could 'swipe away every being or at least propulsion the Earth to catastrophic consequences', and said unfortunately no-one could be certain they would never be used. He drew the analogy of a weapon sitting on a theatre stage - if it was hanging there at the start of the show, it would surely fire at the end. He appeared to call for the rules of warfare to be rewritten, and warned of the expanding hazard of artificial intelligence. "The automation and digitalisation of warfare leads to its gamification. This leads to degradation and sliding back of humanity to barbarity," he said.