NATO prepares for 'high intensity conflict' with Russia

"We all agree that Ukraine's success will ensure our immediate interests," Czech President Petr Pavel said on November 23 at the Visegrad Group summit of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

Also at the event, Mr. Pavel noted that his counterparts were almost unanimous in their views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Asked about the threat posed by Russia to the US-led military bloc, Pavel said it would take Moscow years to restore its combat capabilities. However, he urged Western countries to remain cautious.

“On the other hand, there are many variables that can change the situation. It will really depend on the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine. The armies of all countries are preparing for the possibility of a high-intensity conflict with Russia,” Pavel stressed.

To date, the Czech Republic and Poland have been the two countries that have shown the most enthusiastic support for Ukraine in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Hungary has taken a different stance, continuously refusing to send weapons to Kiev and criticizing the EU's policy of supporting Ukraine as damaging to the bloc.

Hungarian President Katalin Novakova said Budapest was ready to provide Kiev with “maximum assistance” to defend itself, but the issue of Ukraine joining the EU was directly related to the interests of the Hungarian minority.

The Slovak government has also recently refused to continue providing military aid to Ukraine. This move was made after Prime Minister Robert Fico was elected. This was part of his campaign promise. However, Slovakia still maintains humanitarian aid to support Ukraine.

Since the conflict in Ukraine erupted in late February 2022, Russia has reiterated that it has no plans to attack NATO. However, Moscow views NATO’s growing expansion toward its borders as a serious threat. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called NATO an “instrument of confrontation” created to contain first the Soviet Union and then Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also warned about the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, saying this is one of the main reasons for Moscow to launch a military campaign in Ukraine.

Kong Anh (Source: RT)

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