Putin keeps promoting Russia’s new nuclear missiles as tools to threaten the United States, while Moscow uses Belarus to menace Europe with the Oreshnik missile.
Authorities grounded flights on 18 October night after back-to-back sightings of suspected drones circling the runways, but no objects or suspects were found.
He said that the current state of affairs between Moscow and the EU could shift rapidly, adding "To achieve this goal, Russia will not shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary."
The Kremlin appears focused on reshaping its ties with the US through a mix of nuclear threats and economic promises, all while refusing to engage in peace talks with Ukraine and pushing for more battlefield leverage.
Andrew Chakhoyan argues that NATO’s consistent reluctance to respond with force to Russia’s repeated airspace violations plays directly into Moscow’s hands.