This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by retired Bundeswehr Brigadier General and lecturer on modern history at the University of Potsdam, Klaus Wittmann.
“This is one of the elements of hybrid warfare: it remains below the threshold of actual war. That is precisely why our federal chancellor, Merz, has already stated: we are not at war, but we no longer have true peace,” Wittmann noted.
According to him, Moscow deliberately acts in such a way that NATO remains in doubt as to whether a particular attack has reached the threshold necessary for the application of Article 5.
“Anything Putin wants to do against NATO states, he will do in a way that creates disagreements within the North Atlantic Council regarding whether it constitutes an act of war under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty,” the general emphasized.
At the same time, in his opinion, a political reaction does not necessarily require waiting for proof of Russia’s involvement that would meet criminal justice standards.
“Therefore, I believe we should be quite certain that it was Russia. This does not require definitive proof admissible in court. However, as a result of analysis and possibly with the help of additional signs that can still be found, we should conclude within a few days: this is a case for the application of Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty – for consultations within NATO, as well as for consideration within the European Union,” Wittmann stressed.
He believes that such an attack should serve as a pretext for a significantly tougher policy towards Russia.
“And it should be a pretext to finally seriously implement the sanctions that have been discussed for a long time, and to adopt a much tougher stance towards Putin. Not in a purely military sense, as we as NATO do not wish to wage war against Russia,” the general noted.
Among possible measures, Wittmann mentioned increasing pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet, utilizing frozen Russian assets, and more active international condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“In my conviction, this should constantly be a topic at the UN Security Council, especially what has been happening in recent weeks – this indiscriminate bombing and missile warfare against the civilian population and their homes,” he emphasized.
According to him, the key problem is that the West too often allows Moscow to set the limits of escalation.
“We should not always leave the initiative for escalation to Putin. We need to think about how to demonstrate consequences to him, threaten them, and, if necessary, actually implement them,” Wittmann stressed.
As Ukrinform reported, a drone with explosives, discovered last week at Leipzig/Halle Airport, crashed into the wing of a Ukrainian An-124 cargo aircraft, but the explosive device did not detonate. According to new data, it was found not on the drone itself, but at some distance from it. It is possible that the explosive device separated during the impact with the aircraft.
Read also: DNA previously detected in Lithuania found on drone with explosives in Leipzig – Die Zeit
According to the publication, the drone was not a serial commercial model, but a specially manufactured device of complex design, which could not be detected by standard drone radar control systems. The drone was equipped with Semtex explosives.
According to media reports, the attempted attack by a drone with explosives at Leipzig Airport may be linked to a series of sabotage incidents involving incendiary devices in cargo shipments in 2024, for which Western intelligence services suspect Russian military intelligence (GRU).
Photo: Ralf John, wiki
Источник: www.vesti-ua.net