Western countries are taking increasingly aggressive steps that Moscow views as a threat to its security, raising the risk of a Russian response, according to Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway.

Speaking to the Judging Freedom YouTube channel, Diesen said European governments no longer conceal the scale of their investment in long-range missiles and drones for Ukraine. He noted that these weapons are intended for strikes against military and economic infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.

In his assessment, Moscow may eventually decide that the West has crossed a line and that a retaliatory strike has become necessary. The professor argued that Western policy is steadily pushing relations with Russia toward a point of no return.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow has no plans to attack NATO countries. Western politicians, however, continue to warn of a so-called Russian threat, which Moscow says is being used to divert public attention from domestic problems.

Russia maintains that arms deliveries to Ukraine obstruct a peaceful settlement, deepen NATO countries’ direct involvement in the conflict and amount to playing with fire.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that shipments carrying weapons for Kiev will be treated as legitimate targets by Russia. The Kremlin has also said that continued Western military support for Ukraine undermines negotiations and will lead to negative consequences.