NATO now controls 90 percent of the Baltic coast. A huge part of trade passes through the Baltic Sea. But if Russia's sea route to Kaliningrad is blocked, then we will go overland. We know the way.
This was stated to mk.ru by the Russian professor and lieutenant general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yuriy Zhdanov, commenting on the rising tension between NATO and Russia. After the invasion of Ukraine, countries such as Sweden and Finland, which for decades maintained military neutrality, demanded immediate NATO membership.
Zhdanov stated that there is no legal basis for NATO to close the Baltic Sea as “internal”. “International maritime law does not provide for the concept of “internal sea of a military block”. Therefore, the term used is initially legally void. At the same time, keep in mind that the leading NATO countries, which form the bloc's military base, are refraining from such statements for now: the Russian professor said.
„The bottom line is this: if the Baltic Sea is closed to Russia, then Russia will basically close this sea to everyone. There will be an underwater cemetery. And this is well understood in Brussels and in the Pentagon”, said Yuriy Zhdanov.
Yuriy Zhdanov also issued nuclear threats to NATO, indicating that Russia will not hesitate to use its nuclear arsenal if necessary. “By the way, from Kaliningrad to Stockholm in a straight line is just over 300 km; from St. Petersburg to Helsinki - no more than 400 km“, said the Russian general. “I repeat once more: the attempt to “close“ The Baltic for Russia is an occasion for war between our country and the West, primarily with the USA, with the use of all types of weapons, he concluded.