Putin threatens nuclear response over NATO's Kaliningrad claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened nuclear retaliation if NATO attacks the exclave of Kaliningrad, claiming the alliance plans to cut off its supply lines. He called such a move a "direct attack on Russia" during Thursday's Valdai Forum. Putin's claim is baseless, as NATO exercises near Kaliningrad are defensive responses to Russian hybrid attacks. Experts note this marks the first time since the Gorbachev era that a Kremlin leader has openly threatened nuclear weapons, though NATO chief Mark Rutte said he doesn't take it seriously. Russia's nuclear rhetoric serves domestic purposes, justifying war costs as Moscow spends 43.8 percent of its state budget on the conflict. Russian sabotage acts in Europe have quadrupled since 2024, with NATO counting 200 physical attacks in the past year.