U.S. intelligence reports say Russian President Vladimir Putin could try to launch a limited assault to occupy NATO territory within weeks.
The warning comes despite Vladimir Putin facing fresh humiliation as Ukraine’s strikes intensify and move further into Russia.
Until now, US intelligence believed the Kremlin dictator would not risk provoking NATO while fighting in Ukraine.
But this assessment changed this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.NATO members believe Putin is already conducting probing attacks to test and fracture the alliance.
Western fighter jets have been scrambled three times in the last few weeks to shoot down drones, while Ukraine recently intercepted a drone that had earlier crossed into Romanian airspace.
And fighter jets were scrambled over 250 per cent more in July compared with a year ago as Russia continues to probe the West’s defences.
The sharp increase in the monthly figure for July compared with the same month in 2025 highlights Putin’s aggressive stance.
‘The numbers do not lie,’ said a post by NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum.
‘The possible threats range from a cyberattack on a NATO country or sending unmarked armed groups to occupy territory to a limited incursion on the alliance’s eastern flank,’ said the WSJ report.
