Russia Warns Lithuania: Nuclear Weapons Deployment Makes Its Territory a Target

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on Friday that deploying nuclear weapons in Lithuania would make its territory a target for Russian nuclear arms. Peskov emphasized such a move would dangerously escalate tensions. His statements to Russia's First Television Channel responded to Lithuania's plans to revoke a constitutional ban on deploying nuclear weapons within its borders. The Russian presidency's spokesperson clarified this development was anticipated. Addressing Lithuania, he stated: "If you deploy nuclear weapons on your territory, this means they are aimed against some party." Peskov added these weapons "obviously would not be aimed against the West, but towards the East, meaning against us. If a country hosts nuclear weapons aimed against us, its territory will become a target for our nuclear weapons." On Thursday, Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas announced plans to amend the constitution next winter, abolishing the ban on deploying nuclear weapons on Lithuanian soil.