Russia Warns NATO Activity Near Belarus Border Risks Military Escalation
NATO’s growing military presence near the borders of the Russia-Belarus Union State could trigger unpredictable incidents and even a direct military confrontation, a senior Russian diplomat warned Friday.
Yulia Zhdanova, head of Russia’s delegation to military security and arms control talks in Vienna, told state news agency TASS that increased NATO activity along the borders of Russia and Belarus carries serious escalation risks.
She said the buildup is “fraught with unpredictable military incidents that could escalate into a direct clash between Russia and NATO,” adding that most Western countries are unwilling to seriously discuss steps to reduce those risks.
Zhdanova cited what she described as Poland’s lack of response to a Russian proposal for expert-level consultations following the crash of an allegedly Russian drone in Poland. She said Russia’s Defense and Foreign ministries had suggested talks on the incident, but Warsaw did not respond.
Speaking at an OSCE forum on security cooperation, Zhdanova said Russia also failed to receive direct engagement from Poland, with NATO and European Union allies instead signaling that no professional discussions would take place.
She argued that the situation persists because, in her words, European leaders are using what she called a “fabricated Russian threat” to rally NATO and EU support behind continued military assistance to Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow.
According to Zhdanova, this approach benefits what she described as “Russophobic elites” in Europe, whom she claimed rely on confrontation with Russia to maintain their political standing.
