RIP NATO as we knew it
Putin has tested NATO with a deliberate drone attack on Poland, using Belarusian airspace. In response, NATO countries merely invoked Article 4-a consultation mechanism. This is equivalent to giving an attempted murderer a written warning instead of a serious punishment.
Today, President Trump’s representative, John Coale, met with the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. He delivered a flattering birthday message from Trump and announced the removal of sanctions on Belarus’s state airline, Belavia. Notably, there were no questions raised about why Russian drones were allowed to use Belarusian airspace to target a NATO member state.
European nations must face a hard reality: under the current U.S. administration, America is unlikely to come to their aid in the event of a Russian attack. It is time for Europe to form a new security alliance—one that includes Ukraine—to counter Russian aggression.
Putin sees a strategic opportunity over the next 3.5 years. He understands that the U.S. is unlikely to put boots on the ground to defend European allies. At most, Washington may provide some military equipment for sale and limited intelligence support. That is not enough.
European nations must now build a „security belt” across the continent to shield themselves from Russian aggression—with Ukraine at the core of this effort. Ukraine has the battlefield experience necessary to deal with the Russian military. Time is running out, and Europe must take Putin’s ambitions seriously.
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Back in January 2022, President Zelensky underestimated Putin’s threats. As a result, Russian forces quickly penetrated deep into Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine continues to pay a high price for that miscalculation. Putin has consistently followed through on his threats. His December 2021 ultimatum to NATO is unfolding before our eyes.
The recent attack on Poland confirmed to Putin that now is his moment to push deeper into Europe. He will keep advancing until he meets a firm obstacle.
Today, Ukraine stands as a fortress, shielding the rest of Europe from Russian invasion. But how long can that fortress hold without adequate support from its allies?
European NATO members must step up. It’s time to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine’s western regions and use their air defense systems to intercept any drones or missiles headed toward Poland or other bordering nations. That kind of decisive response would send a clear message to Moscow and serve as a meaningful deterrent.
Author: Yuriy Boyechko, Hope for Ukraine
