Russia’s war in Ukraine puts Europe on edge

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that concern is rising in Europe that Russia’s war in Ukraine could widen beyond Ukraine’s borders and affect nearby NATO members. The discussion centers on Poland, which borders Ukraine and hosts a NATO logistics hub that supports military and civilian aid to Kyiv. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says Europe needs to be prepared to answer what he describes as Russian hybrid attacks with a strong response.

The article says some European governments believe the spillover has already begun through drone incursions, cyberattacks and sabotage. Moscow denies those accusations. Al Jazeera notes that Poland is viewed by the International Centre for Counterterrorism as the main target of Russia’s sabotage campaign in Europe, and cites research from Harvard indicating the country faces a very high volume of politically motivated cyberattacks. Polish authorities are also reported to be on alert after several airspace violations.

The broader significance is that the war’s consequences are being felt well beyond the battlefield in Ukraine, adding pressure on NATO states along the alliance’s eastern flank. Sikorski argues that ending the war would require Russian President Vladimir Putin to acknowledge that his original aims cannot be achieved and that the full-scale invasion was a mistake. The report frames Poland as both a frontline supporter of Ukraine and a country exposed to wider regional security risks.