Zakharova warns of response to European aggression amid nuclear discussions in Lithuania

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow will respond to any aggression from Western Europe or the European Union.

The warning came at a weekly briefing on Thursday, October 8.

Responding to remarks by the head of German foreign intelligence, Zakharova stressed that Russia has no plans for an armed conflict with Western Europe and “threatens no one.” She added, however:

“If such aggression begins on the part of Western Europe, the European Union as an association of the relevant countries, a response will be given. What kind? I think you would do better to reread the relevant statement by the President of Russia,” Zakharova said.

Zakharova also characterized as escalation any deployment of additional NATO contingents, including American troops, and associated military infrastructure in the Baltic states.

The statement came two days after the Kremlin reacted to a vote in the Lithuanian Seimas. On October 6, 106 deputies voted in favor of an amendment removing Article 137 from the constitution, which prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory. Eighteen deputies voted against, and six more abstained. The final vote is scheduled for January 12 — passage of the amendment requires the votes of at least 94 of the 141 deputies.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the approach of American military infrastructure toward Russia’s borders as a step toward escalating tensions. He said “the same applies to the deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of a neighboring state,” and that Russia “will be forced to take all necessary measures to ensure its own security.” Journalists put these questions to Peskov in part in the context of US President Donald Trump not ruling out the creation of an American base in Lithuania.

Lithuanian authorities, for their part, say they currently have no plans to deploy nuclear weapons on their territory, and that the matter concerns only the removal of legal obstacles to participation in NATO nuclear deterrence. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the country’s Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas previously confirmed that talks with Washington are underway on the deployment of American nuclear weapons in Lithuania. Kaunas described the constitutional amendment as a response to Moscow’s actions.

“If Russia had not started the war in Ukraine, we would probably not be having the discussions we are having today,” the Lithuanian defense minister said.

Against this backdrop, on October 5 Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service warned that the country could find itself drawn into an armed conflict as Russia’s “shadow war” becomes increasingly aggressive. According to Politico, EU ambassadors are preparing for a Russian hybrid attack that could result in numerous casualties.