European Leaders Urge Wartime Readiness Amid Russia's Escalating Military Threats

European leaders and NATO allies are growing increasingly concerned about Russia's military provocations and cyberattacks, which are testing the readiness and unity of the alliance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing cyberattacks originating from Belarus and Russia targeting European countries, emphasizing Europe's preparedness to face these threats. Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson urged European nations to shift from a peacetime mindset to wartime readiness in response to Russia's expanding military capabilities. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda described recent Russian incursions into NATO airspace as deliberate tests of the alliance's response capability. Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds warned of potential provocations and sabotage, stressing the importance of maintaining strong defense capabilities to deter Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia is ready to respond to any new threats with force, underscoring the heightened tensions in the region.