Vladimir Putin openly threatened the West at an emergency Russian Security Council meeting, convened before NATO nations discussed a Russian airspace incursion over Estonia.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council, at Estonia's request, debated Russian actions. Putin stated Moscow would unilaterally uphold the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty until 2026 but mainly threatened "military-technical measures" in response to NATO's continued disregard for Russia's security interests.
Putin highlighted ongoing deployment of intermediate- and short-range missiles, posing a direct threat to Europe. This rhetoric reflects an escalation strategy that began after his meeting with Donald Trump, which convinced him of weak U.S. reactions to Russian moves.
The first step in this policy was intensified attacks on Ukraine, followed by Russian drone and aircraft incursions into Polish and Estonian airspace. The U.S. responses have remained restrained, emboldening the Kremlin to use harsher language toward the West.
Putin aims to convince European leaders they no longer have a reliable ally in the U.S. Ahead of a possible ASEAN summit meeting between Trump, Xi Jinping, and Putin in Malaysia, the Russian president is trying to strengthen his negotiation position through military and political threats.
Putin's rhetoric is seen as an attempt to intimidate the West, push the U.S. toward concessions on Ukraine by threatening to expand the conflict into Central Europe, and to showcase the perceived weakness of American leadership.
