Putin says "we are planning corresponding humanitarian measures" for Baltic Russian speakers

On September 25, Vladimir Putin told reporters at a St. Petersburg cultural forum that the Baltic states are mistreating Russian-speaking residents and said a response was being planned. The comments, reported by TV Rain, came as worries persisted about Russia’s intentions toward Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Recent Russian warnings over Kaliningrad, earlier speculation about a separatist enclave in Estonia, and expanding Cossack groups have added to those concerns. Putin also denied that Russia was getting ready for a conflict with Europe, though earlier Russian assurances have not held up, according to the report. The episode matters because analysts have warned Moscow could cite the treatment of Russian speakers as a reason for intervention in the Baltics.