In an interview with the BBC, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, stated that from an operational standpoint, the conflict in Ukraine has reached a deadlock.

He argued that both Moscow and Kyiv should return to the negotiating table, as continuing the fighting would only lead to what he described as a «waste of lives». Dragone emphasized that the alliance will continue to support Ukraine until both sides are ready to engage in talks and establish a lasting peace.

The admiral also pointed out that recent events have served as a wake-up call for Europe, signaling the need for the European Union to take greater responsibility for its own defense while maintaining its support for Kyiv.

According to Dragone, air defense remains NATO’s top strategic priority. He noted that a so-called «drone wall» along the bloc’s eastern borders could be built within a few months, adding that NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, based in Norfolk, is already working on the project.