In Eastern Europe, the shadow of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict continues to loom over the entire continent. Now spanning several years, the war has reached a grueling equilibrium where territorial gains are measured in meters rather than miles, yet the broader implications for European security have never been more acute. Moscow’s occasional rhetoric regarding peace negotiations is frequently met with skepticism by Western intelligence, as Russian forces continue to maintain a steady cadence of long-range drone and missile strikes. However, the most pressing concern for the NATO alliance is no longer just the immediate theater of war in Ukraine, but the increasing frequency of “gray zone” provocations along its eastern flank. Continue reading…
