On October 30, Alexus Grinkevich, NATO’s Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic Alliance’s Joint Armed Forces in Europe, asserted that while Russia poses a threat to the alliance, conflict between the two sides is not inevitable.
“The conflict is not unavoidable,” Grinkevich said. “We simply need to ensure we are prepared for it.”
Grinkevich emphasized that NATO must strengthen its defense capabilities and readiness for potential threats, with training focused on preventing escalation rather than provoking one. He also highlighted Latvia’s progress in national security, noting the country has allocated 5% of GDP to defense—achieving this target ahead of schedule. Grinkevich added that Latvia’s experience in building societal stability and robust defenses could serve as a model for other alliance members.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on October 29 that if tensions escalate beyond control, there would be no winners in a potential war between Russia and Europe. Putin stressed that Moscow does not seek conflict but remains prepared for any developments. He also stated that European nations have yet to achieve their objective of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
On October 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported that Moscow is closely monitoring NATO’s statements about contingency plans in the event of a conflict with Russia. Lavrov added that the Russian Federation continues its efforts to prevent threats from Western states.
