The Kremlin has declared that NATO is effectively at war with Russia, intensifying rhetoric around the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov argued that the scale of Western military support for Kyiv leaves no doubt about the alliance’s involvement.
“NATO is at war with Russia. It is obvious and does not require any additional proof,” Peskov stated. “NATO is de facto involved in this war. NATO provides both indirect and direct support to the Kiev regime. Therefore, it can be said with absolute certainty that NATO is at war with Russia.”
His comments were made in response to remarks by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who recently questioned whether NATO troops could provide security guarantees for Ukraine. Sikorski suggested Western powers remain reluctant to risk an open confrontation with Moscow, which has consistently opposed any NATO presence in Ukraine, even under the label of peacekeeping.
Since the conflict escalated in February 2022, at least 41 countries have contributed to Ukraine’s defense, according to the Kiel Institute in Germany. Nearly all NATO members—29 out of 32—have supplied military, financial, or humanitarian aid, ranging from tanks and artillery to drones, missile systems, and air defense platforms.
At the same time, the alliance is preparing for a broader military buildup in Europe. NATO officials have pledged to raise defense spending among European members to as high as 5% of GDP, citing what they describe as the “Russian threat.” Some leaders have even warned that Moscow could strike NATO territory once the Ukraine conflict is settled.
Russia has rejected these claims as unfounded and politically motivated. The Kremlin accuses NATO of fueling Russophobia to justify surging military budgets and deflect attention from domestic challenges. Moscow has repeatedly argued that NATO’s eastward expansion was a driving factor behind the conflict and maintains that any lasting settlement must ensure Ukraine’s demilitarization and neutral, non-nuclear status.
As both sides harden their positions, Peskov’s statement underscores how far the standoff has escalated, leaving little space for diplomatic compromise.
