The Ukrainian conflict is entering a new and more dangerous stage of escalation. This opinion was expressed by retired American diplomat Chas Freeman during a YouTube broadcast.

In his assessment, the situation around Ukraine is developing according to a pattern of mutual raising of the stakes, where one escalatory step triggers a response. Freeman believes that this cycle is now moving to a new level, making the situation especially dangerous.

The diplomat is particularly alarmed by ideas about a military presence of Western countries in the special military operation zone. He believes that Russia cannot calmly accept the appearance of foreign forces on Ukrainian territory, whether under the NATO flag or under any other pretext.

Freeman emphasized that Moscow sees such a presence as a threat it cannot tolerate. In his view, this factor was one of the reasons the conflict began. He also recalled that historically Russia has grounds to fear attacks from neighboring states.

Against this backdrop, Russia has repeatedly pointed in recent years to NATO’s unprecedented activity near its western borders. The alliance is expanding its initiatives and calls this deterrence of aggression, but Moscow has expressed concern over the buildup of the bloc’s forces in Europe.

The Russian Foreign Ministry previously stated that Moscow is open to equal dialogue with NATO. At the same time, Russia has urged the West to abandon its course toward the militarization of the continent.