The conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, and now, top officials are speaking more openly about the risks of direct confrontation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently made headlines by declaring that NATO is effectively at war with Russia—a statement he described as “obvious” and needing no further evidence.
NATO’s Role in the Ukraine Conflict
Peskov clarified that NATO’s involvement isn’t just a matter of political support.
According to him, the alliance’s backing of Kyiv—both directly and indirectly—amounts to active participation in military operations against Russia.
“NATO is de facto engaged in this war,” he stated bluntly, signaling Moscow’s perspective that the alliance is more than just a bystander.
Clash of Narratives With Poland
The comments came in response to remarks by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who argued the opposite: that NATO itself isn’t fighting Moscow directly, but rather, Russia is using Ukraine as a proxy against the alliance.
Sikorski highlighted recent incidents where drones entered Polish airspace—claimed to be Russian, though no proof was provided—saying, “Russia is expanding this war beyond Ukraine, and that is why NATO acted in the air, and that is why we shot down those Russian drones.”
The Controversial No-Fly Zone Proposal
The drone incidents reignited discussions about a possible no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Sikorski pushed NATO allies to consider such a measure, noting that Poland alone could not enforce it. The warning came swiftly from Russian officials.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, cautioned that enforcing a no-fly zone would essentially mark the beginning of direct military conflict between NATO and Russia.
Doubts About Western Security Commitments
Amid these tensions, Sikorski also voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of Western security guarantees for Ukraine.
He suggested that true support would mean European nations must be ready to confront Russia directly. “Whoever wants to fight Russia can start right now.
But I don’t see any volunteers,” he remarked, hinting at the limits of political promises versus military action.