NATO is considering an armed response to Russia’s actions, with talks on arming reconnaissance drones and lowering the threshold for pilots on the eastern flank, experts say.
What Can NATO Do?
Border states with Russia, backed by the United Kingdom and France, initiated discussions that were soon joined by the rest of NATO. Among the options considered are arming reconnaissance drones that monitor Russian military activity and lowering the decision threshold for escort pilots on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The talks also cover the possibility of conducting NATO exercises directly along the Russian border in less‑fortified areas, aiming to increase the costs that Moscow would incur for its operations and to set clear rules for responding to Russian incidents, particularly along NATO’s eastern frontier.
According to NATO officials, there is currently no timetable or obligation to change the rules of engagement, and any decisions that are made may not be publicly announced.
Russian Provocations
Ukrainian and independent Russian military experts contend that Russia has escalated the level of its hybrid war, using drones, aircraft, ships, and “grain‑gun” devices to provoke.
The Kremlin spokesperson has repeatedly accused NATO of blaming Moscow for actions it has not committed, while Russian intelligence agencies circulate claims that Ukraine is preparing sabotage operations in Poland and Romania.
Political scientist Iwan Preobrażenski notes that such accusations are reminiscent of Soviet‑era tactics of diverting blame, and that these provocations aim to erode Western solidarity, sow mistrust among neighbors, and instill fear among citizens.
Russia on Attacks against NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia does not intend to attack NATO, warning against provoking Moscow and suggesting that Western plans to impose a strategic defeat on Russia are doomed.
Speaking in Sochi at the Woldajski Club conference, Putin threatened that Moscow would respond to Western militarisation and accused the West of hegemony while calling for democracy and respect for opposition views.
He reminded that Russian elections have been rigged for years, that opposition figures who do not flee face re‑education camps or threats to their lives, and affirmed Russia’s readiness to cooperate with other states but also its swift response to any threat to its sovereignty, interests, or peace.
