For the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Alliance, “in a very confidential manner”, without official communications, identified two so-called red lines, the crossing of which by Russia could lead to direct NATO intervention in the conflict. About it writes the Italian publication La Repubblica, citing its sources, against the backdrop of statements by a number of Western politicians, in particular French President Emmanuel Macron, about the hypothetical possibility of sending NATO troops to Ukraine.
According to La Repubblica, at the moment NATO does not have any operational plans for the possible sending of military personnel to Ukraine. We are talking about hypothetical scenarios for the expansion of the current conflict, which could require the intervention of Western allies.
The first “red line,” as stated in the publication, is the direct connection of Belarus to the war on the side of Russia, in particular, a new attack on Kyiv from the north-western direction, from Belarusian territory. The second option for NATO’s hypothetical participation in the conflict is a reaction to Russian military provocations against the Baltic countries or an attack on Moldova. The publication says that Russia may, considering that the West is distracted by internal problems, try to destabilize these states. “However, NATO will not be willing to put up with such aggression,” the publication says.
It emphasizes that NATO distinguishes between a limited offensive by Russian troops, for example in the Donbass, and, for example, a strategic breakthrough to capture Kyiv. In the latter case, direct NATO intervention in the conflict is not excluded. French President Emmanuel Macron recently spoke about this, having previously been the first among the leaders of Western countries to talk about the possibility of sending military personnel to Ukraine. According to Macron, it will be necessary to think about sending Western troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through the front and a corresponding request is received from Kyiv. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal in an interview with a TV channel CBC said on Sunday that “if the time comes,” Kyiv will be grateful to its partners if they decide to send troops to Ukraine. He stressed that for now Ukraine is asking its partners only for weapons and military equipment.
- The Italian publication does not provide the names of any sources for its publication. It does not follow from it that we are talking about any approved plans. NATO representatives themselves, emphasizing that the alliance supports Ukraine, always spoke extremely cautiously about the possibility of NATO military personnel participating in the conflict with Russia. Most Western representatives, including in particular the Italian Defense Minister, continue to deny this possibility – unless Russia attacks NATO countries directly.
- On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the holding of exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, justifying their need for “threats of certain Western officials against the Russian Federation.” It is not reported which persons and statements are being referred to.