Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that a permanent NATO base in Lithuania, like the deployment of nuclear weapons there, would amount to „a step towards escalating tensions.” His remarks came on Tuesday, the same day Lithuania’s parliament backed constitutional changes that would allow weapons of mass destruction on the country’s territory.
Speaking at a briefing in Moscow, the spokesman for Vladimir Putin was asked about the possible creation of a permanent NATO base in Lithuania. In his assessment, such a move „cannot be treated otherwise than a step towards escalating tensions, just as the deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of a neighbouring state.”
– Both will not contribute to stability and predictability on the European continent, but on the contrary – it will mean another significant escalation of tensions, which we deplore – said the spokesman for Vladimir Putin.
– As for Russia, it will of course be forced to take all necessary measures to guarantee its own security – Peskov added.
Lithuanian parliament takes first step
On Tuesday the Lithuanian Seimas gave preliminary approval to constitutional amendments removing the ban on deploying weapons of mass destruction on the country’s territory.
Under Lithuanian law, amending the constitution requires two votes, each passed by a two-thirds majority in the 141-seat parliament. In Tuesday’s ballot 106 deputies backed the change, 18 were against and six abstained. The final vote is scheduled for January 12.
A withdrawn RIA column
Although Lithuanians have not yet voted the changes through, the Kremlin agency RIA managed to publish a column at the end of September headlined „Russia faces another 'special military operation’ – and it will be very short,” whose author openly threatens Lithuania with an invasion similar to the one launched against Ukraine, precisely in connection with the constitutional changes.
Shortly after publication the text was removed. RIA displayed a short statement instead, according to which the article had been withdrawn because it did not conform „with the views of the editorial board, its editorial line or the state policy of the Russian Federation.”
Poland was cited in the text as a positive example. Its author, Alexander Nosovich, stated that „Warsaw has a head on its shoulders,” because Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski said in late August that „Poland does not want to have nuclear warheads on its territory.”
Zalewski’s words were later denied by the head of the defence ministry. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz assured that „Poland is invariably interested in participating in the NATO Nuclear Sharing program.”
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
