Putin warns nuclear weapons use cannot be ruled out amid rising tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that escalating international conflicts could rapidly lead to a 'point of no return,' stressing there are no guarantees to prevent the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. His remarks came as Moscow reiterated it would use all available weapons if the Kaliningrad region were directly attacked.

Speaking at the plenary session of the Valdai Forum in Moscow, Putin said a moment when it becomes impossible to change the course of events "could come very quickly and unexpectedly for everyone." He cautioned that the logic of escalation and increasingly severe responses could bring the world to a dangerous 'point of no return.'

He added that it is impossible to be certain that weapons of mass destruction will never be used, emphasizing the need to consider this possibility and work to prevent it. "Can we be sure that such weapons will never be used? Of course not," he said.

The Russian president linked his warning to rising tensions in international relations, stating that escalation "is never one-sided," and that global changes require prioritizing peace and preventing scenarios that could lead humanity to catastrophic outcomes.

In the same context, Putin issued a direct warning regarding Kaliningrad, affirming that Russia does not plan to attack any European country, but would consider using "all types of weapons" it possesses if the region were directly targeted.

He said any attack on Kaliningrad, which lies between Poland and Lithuania, would put the use of Russia's full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, on the table.