Don’t let Russian aggression distract us from backing Ukraine to the hilt

Swedish and Finnish fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian air force planes travelling through the Gulf of Finland. The aircraft were in international airspace, but the joint Nordic response showed how Finland and Sweden can defend their territory and NATO's northern flank now that they are alliance members.

The editorial frames recent Russian actions as a coordinated hybrid warfare campaign. Examples listed include attempted drone strikes, sabotage, cyberattacks, covert surveillance of undersea cables, politically motivated interference, and aggressive overflights that buzz NATO aircraft. These tactics aim to intimidate European publics and leaders, raise the political cost of supporting Ukraine, and push Western capitals toward retrenchment.

Senior European figures—identified in the piece as the presidents and premiers of several NATO states and the UK's chief of defence staff—have publicly warned about escalating Russian tactics. The head of Denmark's intelligence service warned of a "low but growing risk" that Russia might carry out limited military strikes on NATO border states, possibly using long‑range weapons or false‑flag attacks that could sow confusion and fear.

Possible scenarios and plausibility

The editorial notes speculation around a potential Russian move against Lithuania, which borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Such an attack could isolate the Baltic states and test NATO's willingness to respond. The piece judges a full‑scale invasion of the Baltics unlikely, arguing the Kremlin appears more interested in sustained pressure designed to undermine support for Ukraine than in risking a direct conventional confrontation that could trigger wider war.

Impact on European politics and defence

European governments face political and fiscal constraints that inhibit rapid rearmament. Defence spending increases and industrial shifts toward armaments are described as slow across much of the continent. The editorial singles out Poland as an exception that has moved more decisively to remilitarise. It also points to rising domestic opposition in some countries to continued support for Ukraine, citing parties and leaders who are either skeptical or openly hostile to further aid.

The piece references US diplomacy, noting that the US will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile systems according to President Zelensky. It also mentions unsuccessful efforts—if attempted—to persuade China to stop supporting Russia's war machine, suggesting Beijing continues to be a complicating factor for Western strategy.