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Kaliningrad to always remain part of Russia, Kremlin says, rebuking Vilnius envoy’s threat

Dmitry Peskov noted in particular that NATO expansion is a "cause for deep concern and grounds for taking additional measures to ensure our security"

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on social media threats by Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden Linas Linkevicius to "neutralize Kaliningrad," asserted that the region will always remain an integral part of Russia.

"Kaliningrad is a Russian region. It is on the Baltic Sea. And it will always be this way," Peskov said.

The Kremlin official noted in particular that NATO expansion, with the bloc’s military infrastructure advancing toward Russian borders and NATO member states indulging in belligerent rhetoric against Russia, is a "cause for deep concern and grounds for taking additional measures to ensure our security."

Earlier, Linkevicius threatened to "neutralize" Kaliningrad against the background of Sweden's accession to NATO if Russia "challenges" the military alliance.

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Foreign policy Dmitry Peskov Lithuania

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