NATO military chief says alliance ready to fight if attacked
General Alexandrus Grynkewich, NATO's top military commander, said any attack on a member state would be "totally vain" as he set out the alliance's defence plan in Warsaw.
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NATO's top military commander, General Alexandrus Grynkewich, said the alliance is ready to fight and that any attack on a member state would prove "totally vain," as he presented NATO's defence plan at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday.
Grynkewich said NATO would use land, sea and air forces, backed by digital and space capabilities, to stop an initial attack, and would move to break an enemy's combat system if the attack continued. He said the alliance remains purely defensive and has no intention of going beyond protecting and defending its members, but said this should not be mistaken for weakness.
"I do not think conflict is imminent or inevitable," he said, adding that keeping communication channels open with Moscow was important to avoid misunderstandings. He said it was important to make clear to Russia where the line not to cross lies, particularly over so-called hybrid attacks in Europe. Intelligence services, including Denmark's, have assessed that a limited Russian attack on a NATO member bordering Russia is possible, according to RTS Info.
Grynkewich's remarks came after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opened the Warsaw forum by saying that anyone suggesting Ukraine shares responsibility for the war was doing Russia a favour, a response to comments by US President Donald Trump over the weekend about an energy ceasefire proposal and a separate fuel deal with Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia struck Kharkiv's energy infrastructure immediately after Trump announced the ceasefire proposal, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wants a durable peace rather than a truce, according to La Libre.
NATO has accused Russia of a campaign of sabotage and interference against countries that support Ukraine in recent months, including the discovery of an explosive-laden drone at a German airport, according to RTS Info.
What we know
- 2+ outlets · Financial Times Europe, RTS Info +1 NATO's top military commander, General Alexandrus Grynkewich, said the alliance is ready to fight and any attack on a member would be "totally vain."
- 1 outlet · RTS Info He said NATO remains a purely defensive alliance with no intention of going beyond protecting its members.
- 1 outlet · RTS Info He said he does not see conflict as imminent or inevitable, and stressed keeping communication open with Moscow.
- 1 outlet · RTS Info Intelligence services, including Denmark's, have assessed a limited Russian attack on a NATO member bordering Russia is possible, RTS Info reported.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed Whether Russia is planning any specific attack on a NATO member
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
Grynkewich's comments are among the alliance's clearest public statements that it is prepared to respond militarily to any attack on a member state, at a time when Western intelligence agencies have flagged the risk of a limited Russian strike on a NATO country bordering Russia. The remarks also followed a public rift between Washington and Kyiv over ceasefire terms, underlining that allied unity, not just military readiness, is part of what NATO's deterrence depends on.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 3 countries.
- Financial Times Europe: Nato’s supreme commander warns Moscow against attacks in Europe
- RTS Info: Le chef militaire de l’Otan assure que toute attaque contre ses membres serait "totalement vaine"
- La Libre: Alexandrus Grynkewich, Commandant en chef de l’Otan: "Nous sommes prêts à nous battre dès ce soir"
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What did NATO's military chief say?
- General Alexandrus Grynkewich said the alliance is ready to fight and that any attack on a member state would prove "totally vain."
- Does he think an attack is likely?
- No. He said he does not consider conflict imminent or inevitable, while stressing the importance of deterrence and open communication with Moscow.
- Why does this matter now?
- Intelligence services, including Denmark's, have assessed that a limited Russian attack on a NATO member bordering Russia is possible, according to RTS Info.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.