BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A NATO official said on Sunday Russia is stepping up hybrid acts in Europe, but that at this time the alliance sees no imminent threat of attack.
“Even as the Russians are facing very substantial resistance from Ukraine, they are stepping up attacks on Ukraine as well as hybrid acts in Europe,” the official said.
“As always, NATO remains vigilant and alert to the variety of threats we face. At this time, we see no imminent threat of attack,” the official said, adding: “We continue to stand with Ukraine. And NATO continues to work around the clock to keep our one billion people safe”.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Saturday that Poland and NATO must be prepared for various scenarios, and that a provocation by Russia against any NATO member cannot be ruled out.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Russia on Tuesday to meet briefly with intelligence counterparts.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ratcliffe brought up the possibility of a Russian operation against a NATO member during that meeting, though it was unclear if that was the sole purpose of the trip.
Russia has consistently denied any involvement in sabotage planning or attacks on Europe, and rejects such accusations as Western scaremongering.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb also stated that he does not believe Russia would risk attacking a NATO country, dismissing warnings that Moscow could be ready to strike NATO territory by 2029.
Speaking to Germany’s Bild newspaper on Saturday, Stubb said such forecasts were speculative and lacked supporting evidence.
“If someone had such a crystal ball — wonderful. But I simply see neither evidence nor facts for that,” he said. “I do not believe that Russia would ever want to attack the most powerful military alliance in the world, NATO.”
He cautioned, however, that he was not advising allies to lower their guard. “I’m not saying ‘relax.’ One should always prepare for the worst in order to prevent it.”
Stubb said his assessment rested on two pillars. “First, I have intelligence insights. And second, we have deterrence — and this deterrence is stronger than that of any other military power anywhere in the world.” That deterrence, he said, is based “on conventional forces, on missiles and on nuclear weapons. It makes no sense for any power in the world to test the resolve of this alliance.”