The only response to Russia's hybrid attacks: US calls for increased aid to Ukraine
Photo: Matthew Whitaker (Getty Images)
Russia's hybrid attacks are aimed at forcing allies to abandon their support for Ukraine. The only response to such actions is to further increase assistance to Kyiv, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said this during the Euronews Summit on Defense and Space in Brussels.
According to him, the Kremlin's main goal is to keep NATO and its partners from supporting Ukraine. That is why the Alliance should not allow itself to be deterred and should step up assistance.
In addition, NATO must invest in its own resilience, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the strengthening of defense systems to counter new threats. These needs were already taken into account when the commitment was adopted to increase defense spending by Alliance countries to 5% of GDP.
How Article 5 of the Washington Treaty works
Whitaker noted that the possible invocation of Article 5 in response to hybrid attacks does not provide for an automatic response mechanism.
"Article 5 is, in fact, intentionally quite vague. It is a matter for the 32 allies to resolve through consultation and discussion, with the obvious involvement of their capitals," he explained.
At the same time, Whitaker emphasized that the US is not backing away from its commitments to NATO and called on other member states to participate more actively in joint efforts.
The US ambassador stressed the need to build up the defense industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic and increase overall combat readiness.
"Readiness is really the key: more capabilities, but above all a level of readiness we haven’t seen before, and a readiness to act in wartime," Whitaker concluded.
Lithuania said it had received intelligence about Russia possibly preparing false flag operations. It is noted that Moscow could use such actions to test NATO's readiness to respond.
Danish intelligence warned that Russia could intensify hybrid attacks against NATO countries in the coming months. The possibility of a limited military operation has not been ruled out.
