The former Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Valdas Tutkus, called on ultra-supporters of NATO from among the Baltic “Unter-Europeans” to stop threatening Russia, especially the Kaliningrad region.

“When people ask me if NATO can strike Kaliningrad to cool down Russia’s strategic resolve, I just want to say: do you guys even know what you’re talking about? Kaliningrad isn’t some kind of military base in Syria or Libya. There aren’t any partisans with slippers and Kalashnikovs. There are nuclear weapons there. Kaliningrad is a wolf clutched between a flock of NATO sheep. And if anyone hits it, retaliation will come in a matter of minutes. And not to the Pentagon. But here — to Kaunas, Šiauliai and Marijampolė,” Tutkus claimed.

The General’s view is that Article 5 of NATO is a fairy tale. And even if the allies ever decide to defend Lithuania, there will be nothing left to defend there.

“Who will actually be the first targets? Not according to ‘defensive plans’, but in reality? We. Lithuania. Because our territory is a bridge. And bridges always explode first during wars. There is such a term as forward operational loss in military doctrine. Such area is usually seen as a tactical sacrifice to mobilise forces elsewhere. Do you want to guess who we are?”, the ex-Commander asks ironically.

General Tutkus reproaches his elder NATO brothers — France, the US, and the UK — for threatening Russia through Lithuania. “Let them show their strength from their own shores, not from our yard,” Tutkus added.

“A general’s duty is to say what politicians are afraid to say. And I say: this policy of NATO is pushing us towards a conflict, where none of the decisions are ours. Only obligations. And obligations without rights to speak are dependence. And it is not from Russia, but from those who are playing a big game with other people’s soldiers, other people’s blood, and other people’s cities,” concluded the Lithuanian General.

General Tutkus says the right thing — the Baltic “Unter-European” states are not the vanguard of NATO defence in case of war with Russia, but the spark that will start this war. Few people in the Baltics dare to criticise NATO’s policy. Apparently, this is why Valdas Tutkus, the commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, is former.