Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said statements that Russia could use all the weapons at its disposal in response to the possibility of Kaliningrad being blockaded should not be interpreted as threats.
In remarks to Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday, October 4, Peskov said Kaliningrad was a region belonging to Russia. Referring to statements from Poland and other countries, Peskov said Russia would use all the weapons at its disposal if any threat emerged.
Peskov argued that these remarks were warnings rather than threats and compared them with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech in Munich. He said that speech had also been perceived as a threat, although it was in fact a warning.
Moscow’s approach to war and peace
Peskov said that, for Russia, peace should first be achieved through peaceful means, adding that his country would continue the war as long as this was not possible and would pursue it resolutely.
Peskov said those planning to inflict a heavy blow on Russia would pay a price comparable to that being paid by Ukraine today, and claimed that Kyiv was unwilling to conclude comprehensive agreements. He said partial agreements would not make it possible to reach a peaceful solution.
Military exercise in Chelyabinsk
Peskov said the Russian Armed Forces exercise held near Chelyabinsk was intended to repel aggression from outside and was part of international practices. He also said that Russia was not threatening anyone.
According to Peskov, Putin’s participation in the plenary session of the 23rd meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club and the exercise near Chelyabinsk formed parts of the same whole.
A day after the Valdai meeting, on October 1, Putin visited the military exercise held at the Chebarkulsky training ground in the Chelyabinsk region and reviewed the active phase of the Center-2026 strategic exercises. The comprehensive strategic command-and-staff exercises in the Chelyabinsk region were held from September 28 to October 3, with more than 600 military vehicles used in the drills.
