Finnish president downplays risk of direct Russian attack on NATO

Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Sep 23, 2026, 05:30 PM UTC · In the digest of 2026-09-23-1730
Finnish president downplays risk of direct Russian attack on NATO
Photo: Portal obronny

Finnish President Alexander Stubb dismissed German warnings of a potential Russian attack on NATO by 2029, even as regional allies bolster defenses against hybrid threats.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has rejected warnings from German officials claiming Russia could be ready to attack NATO territory by 2029. In an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper, Stubb stated he sees "neither evidence nor facts" supporting that timeline, adding he doubts Moscow would challenge "the most powerful military alliance in the world." However, Stubb urged member states to stay prepared for worst-case scenarios to deter aggression.

Despite Stubb's skepticism regarding a conventional invasion, intelligence services across Eastern Europe and NATO report a sharp increase in non-conventional Russian threats. Poland, Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic states continue to heighten military cooperation in response to growing hybrid operations, sabotage, and espionage across the region.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info

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