Vilnius (AFP) – Russia is again deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad outpost that borders two NATO members, Lithuania said Saturday, warning the move was aimed at pressuring the West into making concessions over Syria and Ukraine.
Poland also reacted angrily to Moscow’s move while Lithuania added that it could breach a key nuclear weapons treaty.
“Russia is holding military exercises in Kaliningrad, and its scenario includes deployment of Iskander missile systems and the possibile use of them. We are aware of it,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.
He said modified Iskander missiles had a range of up to 700 kilometres (435 miles) which means they could reach the German capital Berlin from the Russian exclave, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
Linkevicius said that this time he thought Moscow was using the move to “seek concessions from the West”.
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz on Saturday called Russia’s activities “very alarming”.
Lithuania meanwhile said the Iskander deployment could breach the international nuclear arms treaty.
“Such actions are possible violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
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Theoretically speaking… maybe Russia could just nuke: DC, Wall St., Chicago, LA, Detroit. Just kidding…sort of.