Putin warns Russia could use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned he is prepared to use "all weapons," including nuclear arms, if the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad comes under direct attack, citing Western escalation in the Ukraine war. Putin stated that a direct attack on Kaliningrad or other Russian territories would inevitably bring the question of using the country's full arsenal to the agenda. NATO has conducted military drills near the region, which it calls defensive, while Moscow has also voiced concerns over a potential blockade. Senior Russian advisor Sergei Karaganov, known as "Professor Doomsday," separately warned that millions could die if Russia uses nuclear weapons, claiming a nuclear war in Europe would be "easily won" but cause "terrible moral damage." NATO denounced the nuclear rhetoric, reaffirming its defensive posture.