Kremlin calls Lithuanian president's remark on Kaliningrad 'territorial claims'

VILNIUS - Moscow on Friday described Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's remark that "Karaliaucius will never become Kaliningrad" as "territorial claims".

Nauseda made his remark on Kaliningrad, known as "Karaliaucius" in Lithuanian, earlier this week while commenting on Russia's decision to rename the Kristijonas Donelaitis Memorial Museum, established in the region in 1979, to the Museum of Literature.

"Russia's decision to rename a museum dedicated to Kristijonas Donelaitis, a classic of Lithuanian literature, is yet another unacceptable attempt at rewriting history," the president posted on the X social platform.

"Even though the old inhabitants of Lithuania Minor, now part of the so-called Kaliningrad Oblast, are long gone, the last signs of Lithuanian culture there must be safeguarded. No matter how hard Russia tries, Karaliaucius will never become Kaliningrad!" he added.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Lithuania is a hostile state toward Russia.

"Lithuania is an unfriendly state; it's a state hostile towards us, which, among other things, as it turns out, has territorial claims. This justifies our serious concerns and current and future measures to ensure national security," he was quoted as telling reporters on Friday.

The history of what is now the city of Kaliningrad dates back to the mid-13th century when the Teutonic Order built Koenigsberg Castle on the Old Prussian settlement of Twangste. The settlement was named Koenigsberg in honor of King Ottokar II of Bohemia.

The name Karaliaucius has been used in Lithuanian writings in both Lithuania Minor and Lithuania Major since the 16th century.

In 1946, the Soviet Union renamed the city Kaliningrad in honor of Mikhail Kalinin, the chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.