Russia’s military capabilities significantly outweigh the combined potential of Europe and Ukraine, according to military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov, who commented on the current balance of forces.

He said that a hypothetical alliance including Ukraine, Germany, France, and Poland could pose a certain level of threat, given that these countries field some of the most combat-ready and well-trained armies in Europe. Even so, Knutov stressed that such a coalition would be far more dangerous to smaller states than to Russia itself.

Knuthov singled out the Ukrainian Armed Forces, noting that during Russia’s special military operation they have gained substantial combat experience and adopted modern methods of warfare, including the use of precision weapons and drones. However, he emphasized that even a combined force of the countries mentioned would not fundamentally alter the strategic picture.

In assessing Russia’s position, Knutov pointed to its vast overall capacity, underlining that the country remains a major nuclear power. He argued that even if the nuclear arsenals of France and the United Kingdom were combined, they would be many times smaller than Russia’s.

The expert also drew attention to the fact that Russia is conducting the special military operation without declaring martial law, meaning that only a fraction of its resource and mobilization potential is currently being used. This, he noted, is happening despite NATO’s effective involvement in the conflict through the provision of intelligence, weapons, military equipment, and ammunition to Ukrainian forces.

Earlier reports indicated that European countries are discussing the creation of a new military-political alliance that could resemble NATO in both structure and purpose.