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NATO Commander Warns Russia Attack Would Be 'Utterly Futile'
Confirmed
In Short: Informat.ro (Romania) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s readiness to respond to any attack, not just the forces involved in an initial assault.
At a Warsaw security conference, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, issued a stark warning to Russia, stating that any attack on the alliance would be 'utterly futile.' LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich outlined NATO's 'theory of victory,' emphasizing that the alliance would block, blunt, and break any attack against its members.
LBC (United Kingdom) and Latest news from Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan) noted that Grynkewich did not explicitly name Russia but his message was clearly directed at Moscow. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich warned of massive retaliation if necessary, striking far beyond the forces involved in an initial attack.
Informat.ro (Romania) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich emphasized NATO's defensive nature but stressed that the alliance would respond decisively to any aggression. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich's message was aimed at reassuring NATO allies and deterring potential Russian aggression.
LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) highlighted that Grynkewich urged national governments to publicly attribute attacks to Russia once responsibility is established. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich warned that NATO would destroy 'anything and everything' involved in an attack if Moscow were 'foolish enough' to launch an assault.
Informat.ro (Romania) and Latest news from Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan) reported that Grynkewich called for greater support for Ukraine, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to weaken assistance for Kyiv’s defense while testing NATO’s resolve and unity. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s commitment to defending its members and deterring future assault.
LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) noted that Grynkewich warned of the potential for Russian hybrid warfare, including sabotage, drone incursions, and cyberattacks. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich urged NATO allies to be vigilant and prepared for any form of aggression.
Informat.ro (Romania) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s readiness to respond to any attack, not just the forces involved in an initial assault. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich’s message was aimed at reassuring NATO allies and deterring potential Russian aggression.
LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) highlighted that Grynkewich warned of the potential for Russian nuclear threats, particularly in response to NATO’s actions in Kaliningrad. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s readiness to respond decisively to any aggression.
LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s readiness to respond to any attack, not just the forces involved in an initial assault. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich’s message was aimed at reassuring NATO allies and deterring potential Russian aggression.
LBC (United Kingdom) and TimesLIVE (South Africa) reported that Grynkewich emphasized NATO’s readiness to respond to any attack, not just the forces involved in an initial assault. Both outlets agreed that Grynkewich’s message was aimed at reassuring NATO allies and deterring potential Russian aggression.
What this adds
The reports from LBC (United Kingdom), TimesLIVE (South Africa), Informat.ro (Romania), and Latest news from Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan) all agree that Grynkewich's message was aimed at reassuring NATO allies and deterring potential Russian aggression. The outlets also agreed that Grynkewich emphasized NATO's readiness to respond decisively to any aggression, including massive retaliation if necessary.
Background
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, warned Russia that any attack on the alliance would prove futile.
What's confirmed
- Outlining his "theory of victory" at a security conference in Warsaw, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich said NATO was a defensive alliance but it would block, blunt and break any attack against any of its members to ensure the assault proved "utterly futile".
- NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept describes Russia as the most significant threat to the alliance's security.
- European governments have accused Moscow of stepping up a campaign of sabotage, drone incursions and cyberattacks against them NATO's top commander bluntly warned Russia on Monday that his forces would destroy "anything and everything" involved in any attack if Moscow were "foolish enough" to launch an assault on alliance territory.
- Read more: 'There was no Russian interference': Farage blasts Andy Burnham as 'liar' after PM said Kremlin meddled in Brexit vote Read more: Zelensky accuses Russia of breaking 'ceasefire' with strikes on Ukrainian power plant In his speech to the Warsaw Security Forum, Grynkewich did not mention by Russia name but his message was clearly directed at Moscow.
- European governments have accused Moscow of stepping up a campaign of sabotage, drone incursions and cyberattacks against them and Russia warned last month it would use nuclear weapons if NATO attempted to cut off its exclave of Kaliningrad.
- "If someone is foolish enough to attack us, we will fight," he said.
- Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, made his remarks at a time of rising tension between European nations and Russia.
- To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nato’s top commander has issued a blunt warning to Russia, declaring, ‘We’d be ready to fight tonight.’ Speaking after Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a security conference in Warsaw, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich asserted that he doesn’t believe conflict is ‘imminent or inevitable’.
- ‘We will, in short, ensure any attack against any ally proves utterly futile.’ Grynkewich continued: ‘We should take comfort in our ability to deliver mass effects and the implicit warning that we could match any enemy move up the escalation ladder.
- NATO ’s top military commander in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, has warned Russia that any attack on the alliance would be “utterly futile,” while acknowledging that Moscow’s hybrid campaign is making European societies increasingly uneasy.
- “We will, in short, ensure any attack, against any ally, proves utterly futile.” Grynkewich said NATO’s response would not be limited to forces involved in an initial attack.
- His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Europe and Russia and lingering concerns among European allies over US President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO’s mutual defence pact.
What's still developing
- Last month, Vladimir Putin ’s Russia warned it would use nuclear weapons if Nato attempted to cut off its exclave of Kaliningrad, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
- He also warned anyone considering hostile action against NATO that the alliance was prepared to defend itself and knew how it would respond.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has called on NATO members to prepare a robust response to a potentially deadly Russian hybrid attack as Moscow’s destabilization campaign intensifies.
- “And what I want to do is assure the 1bn citizens of our alliance that: we’ve got this. We know what we need to do, we know how we can do it,” Grynkewich said.
- Grynkewich said all 32 NATO allies had embraced a common “theory of victory,” although the alliance does not currently expect a conflict in the near term.
- Grynkewich said the final classified version of the “theory of victory” had been completed about three months ago after a lengthy development process.
- “Ukrainians have been underestimated repeatedly since the beginning of this conflict,” Grynkewich said.
- “If the adversary decides to continue its attack or commit its reserves, we will destroy the warfighting system engaged against us,” the American commander said.
- Concerns over suspected Russian sabotage, cyber activities and interference have prompted NATO to strengthen its defence readiness and coordination across Europe.
- At approximately 00:20 local time, the identified drone was destroyed by Italian fighters launched from Šiauliai Air Base, where they are deployed as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
- The shootdown came two days after NATO fighter jets launched from Šiauliai Air Base identified a flock of birds as the object behind a yellow air alert that suspended traffic at Vilnius Airport for 38 minutes on September 13, 2026.
- At the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi, 32 military representatives from Alliance member states came to receive the latest updates from the Ukrainian front.