NATO expresses concern that Russia’s publicly announced objectives in its ongoing operation in Ukraine might come to fruition. This perspective was shared in an interview with Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation at Vienna’s talks on military security and arms control, as reported by RIA News. The article marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance and frames the discussion within a broader backdrop of alliance history and current tensions (citation: RIA News).
Gavrilov argues that NATO harbors genuine fears that Russia’s stated aims could be achieved, and he suggests that Russia’s plans to economically and strategically weaken the country are unlikely to materialize. The diplomat stresses a belief that only with a deeper understanding among the Ukrainian people about how they might be used as instruments in Western geopolitical strategies can the situation be redirected (citation: interview transcript).
According to Gavrilov, Ukraine has become a battlefield for NATO while Western states act as the rear area in a broader strategic contest. This framing aligns with debates about how different blocs view the conflict and how it affects regional security dynamics (citation: Vienna talks summary).
Earlier, reports indicated that NATO and the Pentagon were unsettled by the Russian military’s demonstrated capacity to strike key decision-making centers within the Ukrainian armed forces using advanced munitions such as Zircon missiles, signaling a potential shift in how the conflict might unfold on the ground (citation: defense briefings).
There were further statements suggesting that some NATO deployments already include forces in Ukraine, a claim that has circulated in various security discussions and raises questions about the evolving role of international actors in the conflict (citation: regional security briefing).