Russia warns Lithuania will be ‘in the crosshairs of our nuclear weapons’ if it hosts Nato nukes in new WW3 threat
Russia has warned that Lithuania will become a target for its nuclear weapons if the Baltic state allows Nato allies to station nuclear arms on its territory. The warning, delivered by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, comes as Lithuania's parliament considers lifting a constitutional ban on hosting nuclear weapons, a move backed by the president and major parties amid heightened security concerns over Russia's war in Ukraine.
Peskov called the proposal "a very serious turn in terms of escalating tensions" and said any nuclear weapons aimed at Russia from Lithuanian soil would put the country "into the crosshairs" of Russian nuclear forces. President Gitanas Nauseda announced the plan in July, framing it as part of Lithuania's role in Nato's nuclear deterrence, though officials insist there are no current plans to actually station such weapons there. The legislation needs a two-thirds parliamentary majority and could take effect this winter. The warning follows a May incident in which a suspected drone over Vilnius triggered an emergency shelter order and forced the president and prime minister into safety, part of a wider pattern of incursions, sabotage and threats attributed to Russia across Europe.
In short
- Russia threatens nuclear retaliation if Lithuania hosts Nato nuclear weapons
- Lithuanian parliament weighing lifting its nuclear weapons hosting ban
- Follows May's Vilnius drone scare and wider European security incidents
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that Lithuania should be able to host Nato nuclear weapons as a way to strengthen collective deterrence and reassure a country facing heightened security threats from Russia. Lifting the constitutional ban would give Lithuania more flexibility within the alliance, even though officials say there are no current plans to station weapons there.
The case against
Opponents argue that hosting nuclear weapons could heighten tensions, make Lithuania a more prominent target in a crisis and increase risks to its population without clearly improving its security. They may favour relying on Nato’s existing deterrence arrangements while avoiding a step Russia could use to justify further military pressure.
Explained simply
Lithuania is a small country on the Baltic Sea, next to Russia and Belarus. It is a member of Nato, the military alliance whose members promise to help defend one another if attacked.
Nato’s nuclear deterrence means that the alliance maintains nuclear weapons to discourage attacks, with some member countries hosting weapons belonging to allies. Lithuania’s constitution currently bars it from hosting nuclear arms, but its parliament is considering changing that rule; officials say there are no current plans to station weapons there.
Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, has threatened to use nuclear weapons in response to moves it sees as a security threat. Lithuania’s debate reflects concern about its security since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while any change could affect tensions between Russia and Nato.
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