Vladimir Putin says Baltic states are "violating the rights of the Russian-speaking population"

On September 25, speaking to reporters at a St. Petersburg cultural forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin contended that the Baltic states mistreat their Russian-speaking residents and said Moscow would take steps to assist them that he described as lawful under international rules. His comments drew scrutiny because they came amid concerns that the Kremlin could cite such complaints to justify intervention in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, following earlier signs of pressure tactics, warnings over the Kaliningrad region, and a growing Cossack presence that analysts say might support a mixed military and nonmilitary campaign. Estonia's foreign ministry earlier rejected a Russian move involving alleged discrimination, and NATO's chief dismissed one Russian warning, but Putin's direct involvement has intensified concerns that Moscow may be laying groundwork for possible intervention.