Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson warned that Europe has only a limited time to prepare for the possibility of a Russian attack. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, he said it was essential to take advantage of the current «window of opportunity» while Russia remains tied down in Ukraine, stressing the need to fortify NATO’s northern flank.

Jonson pointed out that Russian forces are gaining valuable combat experience, particularly in the use of drones and electronic warfare systems, which makes strengthening defenses all the more urgent.

Former UK Chief of the Defense Staff General Nick Carter expressed doubt that Europe will be able to muster the necessary resolve and coordination to confront Moscow. In an interview with Politico, he argued that the real challenge is not inventing new technologies on paper but deploying them quickly and effectively on the battlefield.

Moscow, for its part, has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that it intends to strike NATO members. President Vladimir Putin has insisted that claims of a «Russian threat» are a political tool used by Western leaders to frighten their own citizens and deflect attention from domestic issues. According to him, such statements lack any real basis and are primarily meant to reinforce anti-Russian rhetoric.