Direct conflict between Russia and NATO was once unthinkable, but preparations and defense spending have been stepped up in nervous Baltic states.

The European Union's top official warns that Russia is conducting a "targeted gray zone campaign" against Europe.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that he is ready to vote on a bill sanctioning buyers of Russian oil — one day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told

This is what I would define as a hybrid attack.” Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its intelligence services have led a campaign of sabotage and subversion across Europe.

Indeed, the positions of some of Europe’s leaders toward the continuing drone incidents, acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks and sanction-busting appear to have hardened over two days of talks in Copenhagen, including a closed session among them without phones or advisors.

The answer to that question lies in Russia’s assessment, not of Europe, but of the White House. When Donald Trump announced he would meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest for another summit on Ukraine, Viktor Orbán hailed Hungary as “the only place in Europe” where such a meeting could take place.