Part 4/14:
European and NATO officials remain firm in their stance that Russia’s military expansion beyond Ukraine signifies escalating aggression. Despite skepticism about Putin's willingness to negotiate, NATO maintains readiness to invoke Article 5 if attacked, though the definition of an attack remains deliberately ambiguous. Rutte highlighted that the current incursions—such as Russian planes flying without identification and over NATO member countries—are serious breaches that show Russia is testing NATO's response.