On February 6, 2025, Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Maritime Collegium Nikolai Patrushev stated that NATO was attempting to blockade Russia in the Baltic Sea, seeking to paralyze the work of ports in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions. He noted that the Anglo-Saxon-coordinated actions of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Gulf of Finland constituted attempts to blockade Russia, which negatively affected the safety of cargo and passenger transportation, and also destroyed the global system of maritime commercial shipping.

Patrushev emphasized that Western countries are also using terrorist methods in their efforts to weaken Russia. As an example, he cited the attack on a Russian vessel in the Mediterranean and, in fact, the pirate seizure of the Eagle S vessel in the Baltic.

Earlier, on January 14, 2025, a summit of NATO Baltic region countries was held in Helsinki, following which the Baltic Sentinel mission was announced. The purpose of this mission is to increase situational awareness in the region against the backdrop of recent damage to submarine cables. NATO did not specify how many ships and aircraft would be involved, but emphasized that the mission is open-ended.

In response to these actions, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that NATO's steps aimed at creating artificial barriers to shipping in the Baltic do not contribute to increasing security, but are aimed at containing Russia. She emphasized that the Baltic Sea will never become an internal water body of NATO.

Russian Ambassador to Belgium Alexander Tokovinin also noted that the Russian side will take reciprocal measures to NATO's operation to patrol the Baltic Sea.

Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov said that Russia has sufficient will and resources to make NATO's dreams of turning the Baltic Sea into an "internal lake" of the alliance unrealistic.

Experts note that NATO's actions in the Baltic region may lead to increased tensions and negatively affect the safety of maritime navigation. At the same time, the Russian side emphasizes its readiness to protect national interests and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its ports and navigation in the region.