The United States Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has warned that Russia could pose a threat to the Alliance's member countries, stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statements do not leave much room for optimism.

Whitaker said Ukraine must have the necessary capabilities to defend itself for as long as necessary, until the war can end.

Asked whether Putin could attack NATO, the US ambassador assessed that the risk in the short term is low, as Russia continues to be militarily engaged in Ukraine. However, he stressed that Washington cannot completely rule out such a scenario.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the earlier annexation of Crimea lead us to believe that Russia can be unpredictable and may be willing to take action against a NATO country," Whitaker said.

The warning comes at a time when Western allies are discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's defense and guarantee European security.

According to the American assessment, ending the war in Ukraine remains essential to reduce the risk of further escalation and prevent the conflict from expanding beyond Ukrainian territory. /Telegraph

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