There is currently no direct conventional threat from Russia to the Nordic and Baltic countries or other NATO members, but Moscow will continue its hybrid attacks and efforts aimed at discouraging partners from providing further assistance to Ukraine.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said this following the Ukraine–Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) summit in Kyiv on August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
““I would say that right now the military assessment and security assessment are quite clear: NATO is working well. Russia’s assessment of NATO’s power and strength is at a level where they know — it is not worth attacking. This means that NATO and European countries can feel confident; there is no direct threat... But the Russians are doing everything they can to make everyone worry about them rather than Ukraine,” Michal said.
In his assessment, Russia is likely to carry out more hybrid attacks across the European Union, and everyone should therefore remain vigilant.
Michal noted that Putin had previously been a “grandmaster of cognitive warfare,” convincing everyone that he would be in Kyiv within three days. But now the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga are burning, as are facilities in major cities protected by layered air defenses, as well as warehouses and other targets. Thus, Putin’s “cognitive warfare” is falling apart, the prime minister stressed.
