Kuleba Warns Small Drone Strikes Could Be Enough to Probe NATO
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s former foreign minister, said Moscow could gauge NATO’s willingness to respond by sending only a small number of drones at critical infrastructure rather than mounting a major ground campaign. He warned that Russia is preparing for a wider confrontation with Europe and that its strikes are meant to damage Ukraine’s basic services and erode Western backing before winter.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister from 2020 to 2024, made the remarks to the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network. He argued Moscow’s anti-European messaging suggests preparations for a wider clash with Europe, though he did not foresee a large ground offensive beyond Ukraine. Instead, he said a few drones or missiles aimed at NATO states could reveal security gaps and strain alliance cohesion.
He pointed to an August drone incident at Leipzig Airport in Germany as an example of Moscow watching how European intelligence and security agencies react. Kuleba also doubted negotiations could stop Putin, saying the Russian leader seeks neither a settlement nor a pause and views outcomes as win-or-lose.
Kuleba’s warning could shape public debate in NATO states about air defense, infrastructure protection, and alliance readiness. European governments may face pressure to explain how they would respond to limited drone incursions, while Ukrainian civilians could remain exposed if Western attention and aid waver before winter. The remarks may also influence how media and voters interpret smaller incidents, potentially raising anxiety or prompting calls for clearer deterrence.