Kremlin warns Europe on energy costs and threatens Lithuania over nuclear weapons

The Kremlin has issued warnings regarding both European energy dependency and regional security in the Baltics. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Europe is paying a high price for reducing its reliance on Russian natural gas. As gas prices in the European market rise due to Middle East developments, Peskov suggested that returning to Russian supplies via pipelines or LNG could lower energy costs. Currently, European gas storage levels are at approximately 67%, lower than the 80% recorded during the same period last year.

Separately, Russia has warned Lithuania that it will target Lithuanian territory with nuclear weapons if the Baltic nation hosts nuclear warheads from its allies on its soil. This warning follows discussions in the Lithuanian Parliament regarding a potential constitutional amendment to allow the storage of nuclear weapons to bolster national security following the invasion of Ukraine. While President Gitanas Nausėda has expressed interest in participating in Western nuclear deterrence, Lithuanian officials have repeatedly stated there are no current plans to host such weapons.