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Russia and Belarus Signal Readiness for Preemptive Action Over European Military Escalation

Kremlin warns of severe retaliation targeting NATO, with Poland and the Baltic states identified as primary targets in potential conflict.

Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, attends a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 76th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2021. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
President Putin, right, with his ally Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator, in Moscow last month
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Overview

  • Russia and Belarus have announced their readiness to take preemptive military measures in response to what they perceive as escalating military involvement by European nations in the Ukraine conflict.
  • Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's foreign spy service, explicitly warned that Poland and the Baltic states would face the brunt of any retaliation if NATO were to attack Russia or Belarus.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that failure to stop Putin in Ukraine could embolden him to target NATO territory, raising fears of a global conflict.
  • NATO leadership reiterated that any aggression against its members would trigger a devastating collective response, emphasizing the alliance’s commitment to mutual defense.
  • This development follows over a year of escalating tensions, including NATO expansion, increased military aid to Ukraine, and heightened rhetoric from both sides.