Nato’s top military commander to tell Putin: We are ready to fight you and win if you attack

Nato’s top military commander to tell Putin: We are ready to fight you and win if you attack The speech is expected to outline Nato’s response to a Russian attack in detail to deter Moscow - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Nato’s top military commander is expected to issue a defiant message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying that the alliance is firmly ready to fight Russia. Tensions between Moscow and Europe have been mounting for months, with a spate of suspected Russian airspace violations into European countries and a series of both outright and veiled threats to nations supportive of Ukraine. Hybrid attacks have led to airports shutting down and world leaders have since been gathering to determine how to fend off any potential danger. Countries including the UK have warned the public to stock up on cash, food and water in case of an emergency, including war. At a security conference in Warsaw, US general Alexus Grynkewich, the alliance’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe will outline his “theory of victory” over a potential Russian attack. The Warsaw Security Forum will feature addresses by Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as well as Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store and Lithuania’s prime minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius. Grynkewich’s conversation, titled Theory of Victory: How do we achieve military success against Russia in deterrence and defence?, will outline how Nato would react to a potential invasion of any of the group’s territory. He told Bloomberg that the aim of publicising the plan is to deter Russia from attempting a seizure or invasion of any Nato territory. It is expected to involve drones and AI technology, as well as supplementing advantages that Nato already has over Russia, including F-35 fighter jets, he said. Several experts have previously told The Independent that Russia intends to test the alliance’s will and its Article 5 mutual defence clause by potentially launching a limited incursion. Speaking about a reluctance on the part of affected nations to attribute hybrid attacks to Russia, Grynkewich said he is “certainly not afraid to attribute it”. “If a nation wants me to, I’m happy to talk about it,” he said. Grynkewich added that he believes that the “centrality” of Ukraine to European security will become evident to countries that are currently reluctant to do so in the face of domestic elections. “I think it will become very obvious to them very quickly what the right thing to do is, and why it’s necessary for their own national security,” he said. It comes after US president Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russia to allow Putin to sell diesel amid rising fuel prices. The American general was asked whether this decision would impact his plan to unequivocally pinpoint Russia as a threat and said he would stay focused on military matters. Experts likened the policy to “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic”. “Windows of opportunity come and go. We have to look for those windows of opportunity and seize them when they’re available,” he said about talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments