Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has warned that weapons factories in European countries producing arms for Ukraine could be regarded as potential military targets by Moscow.
Speaking at a press briefing, Zakharova said European states were becoming increasingly involved in the Ukraine conflict by expanding military assistance and establishing facilities and joint ventures linked to weapons production. She argued that such involvement was contributing to a longer conflict rather than helping efforts to reach a settlement.
Her comments came in response to questions about Poland’s reported willingness to host a facility for manufacturing Patriot missile interceptors for Ukraine.
Zakharova said European countries should not assume that weapons plants located outside Ukraine would automatically be protected from Russian military action if they were producing equipment for Kyiv.
NATO members and several European governments have maintained that continued military assistance is necessary to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks, including missile and drone strikes.
Separately, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said there was no immediate threat to NATO territory from Russia following Moscow’s warning concerning its Kaliningrad exclave.
Rutte said NATO’s assessment of the Russian threat had not significantly changed in recent weeks or months. His remarks followed a Russian document warning that Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, which lies on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania.
Rutte said NATO had responded calmly to the warning while stressing that the alliance remains focused on collective defence and opposed to nuclear threats.
He added that any Russian military action against a NATO member such as Finland or Poland would likely be preceded by visible preparations and a build-up of forces.
Rutte also reaffirmed the United States’ role in Europe’s defence, including its conventional and nuclear capabilities. He said NATO would continue supporting Ukraine while strengthening its own defence capabilities.
On the prospects for peace negotiations, Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin had so far shown no clear willingness to engage in a settlement, stressing that a peace agreement would require participation from both sides.
