Ex-Nato commander warns Russia is already at war with alliance

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 00:09 · Archive

A retired US general has warned that Russia is already engaged in warfare against Nato through hybrid attacks.

Retired four-star general Curtis Scaparrotti, who previously served as head of US forces in Europe and as Nato Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has declared that Russia is already engaged in warfare against the alliance. Speaking at an Atlantic Council think-tank event in Washington, DC, he warned of a long-term Kremlin strategy to 'break' Nato through 'spurious activities' targeting member states. He emphasised the urgent need to safeguard critical infrastructure.

Scaparrotti's warning comes against a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations following US President Donald Trump's recent diesel supply deal with Russia, which he says aims to drive down soaring fuel prices ahead of domestic elections next month. Critics contend that lifting sanctions on fuel purchases from Moscow will simply serve to finance its ongoing war against Ukraine.

The resulting dispute has prompted Trump to suggest Ukraine required a new leader and to assert that Russian President Vladimir Putin was more eager for a peace settlement than the government in Kyiv. It has sparked concerns regarding US intelligence sharing and the use of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications network, on which Ukraine heavily depends for its defence. In a show of solidarity, Andy Burnham welcomed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street, pledging continued British support. Both leaders concurred that 'Russia had no interest in peace'.

How it is being reported

• Ex-Nato chief warns 'Russia at war with Nato today' amid Ukraine tensionsFormer Nato Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparrotti has warned Russia is engaged in hybrid warfare against the alliance, with a long-term Kremlin plan to "break" NatoThe Mirror · 14 Oct, 23:54
• Russia is at war with Nato ‘today’, says former top military commanderA long-term goal of the Kremlin’s ‘spurious activities’ is to ‘break’ the alliance, warns a retired US generalEvening Standard · 14 Oct, 22:34

In this story: Curtis Scaparrotti · Donald Trump · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelensky · Andy Burnham · Russia · Nato · Ukraine

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