Moscow, 2 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries that Moscow would consider using “all weapons” in its arsenal if Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad comes under direct attack, while saying he has no plans to attack any European country. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Putin said Russia was prepared to respond to what he described as Western aggression and expressed concern over recent NATO military exercises near Kaliningrad. He said the drills in the Baltic Sea, along with attempts to detain Russian vessels and statements concerning Kaliningrad, represented an escalation. Putin warned that any direct attack on Russia, including Kaliningrad or other Russian territories, would inevitably raise the issue of using all weapons available to the country. NATO and several European countries, along with the United Kingdom, have accused Russia of conducting hybrid activities including cyberattacks, sabotage and espionage, while Moscow has rejected such allegations. The war in Ukraine has entered its fifth year, with Russia continuing military operations and strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, including energy facilities and Kyiv. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have also affected fuel supplies and added pressure to Russia’s wartime economy. Putin acknowledged that the strikes had caused economic losses, saying Russia had lost about one percent of its gross domestic product, while also claiming that more than 100 Russian ships had been damaged in Ukrainian military actions in the Black Sea. He said Russia had responded to attacks on its military and energy-related facilities. At the same time, Putin said he preferred the conflict in Ukraine to end through negotiations. Reuters reported, citing Russian budget documents, that Moscow plans to allocate 17.1 trillion rubles, or about $205 billion, for defense spending in 2027, around 27 percent higher than originally budgeted and the highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.