"Wladimir Putin wants to make uncertainty, confusion and divisions in the West" – we read on Thursday (11.09.2025) in the German diary "Sueddeutsche Zeitung". A day earlier, Russian drones repeatedly breached Polish airspace, and any of them were shot down.
The paper commentator Nicolas Richter notes that on the 1 hand Moscow threatens to usage atomic weapons, on the another hand it carries out hybrid actions against NATO states, reaching for sabotage, espionage and misinformation. "This mixture of low-level military activities, terrorism and crime remains below the threshold of open armed conflict, but proves that Moscow sees Europeans as opponents and even enemies. Now the Kremlin has decided to escalate the hybrid war," we read.
New phase
According to Richter, the confrontation between the West and Russia is entering a new, more dangerous phase, due to the fact that Putin is ready to take a greater hazard through expanding provocations.
"Putin seems to lose more and more respect for the West; in relations with NATO he explores the limits of what he can afford. The reason for this is besides in Washington: while erstwhile U.S. president Joe Biden assured that he would defend 'every inch' of NATO territory, his successor Donald Trump relativized this commitment".
The commentator writes that Putin is most likely not curious in an open war with NATO, it would be besides risky. But the Russian leader has learned that he can accomplish much at a tiny cost.
"Perhaps he sent drones to Poland to analyse the consequences. How will Warsaw react? And above all, how will Trump react? possibly Putin hopes that the West will not be able to agree on a serious warning. He may be hoping Trump will be indifferent. Then weakened NATO would find itself in an even more hard situation."
Strong consequence needed
A paper commentator adds that if the North Atlantic Pact wants to avoid escalation, it must now clearly show Putin the border.
"Polish government responded rightly by destroying Russian drones (for the first time in NATO airspace). It is besides right that Warsaw is seeking agreement with allies. NATO will gotta admit that it is poorly prepared for the war Putin leads".
Russian attacks have become everyday, but cannot be accepted regular – we read.
