NATO deputy commander warns Putin grows more risk-accepting as Ukraine war continues

NATO’s deputy commander in Europe, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, warned Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming “increasingly cavalier, dangerous and risk accepting” as the Ukraine war continues, urging the alliance to avoid overreacting to provocations. Stringer spoke at a security conference in Tallinn, Estonia, amid European warnings that Moscow may test NATO with bolder attacks, including sabotage and espionage. He cautioned that Putin seeks to divide Western allies and provoke an “overreaction,” while Polish and French leaders have raised alarms about potential deliberate drone or missile strikes on NATO territory. Baltic leaders, however, downplayed the risk of a direct military attack, noting Russia’s forces are tied down in Ukraine. Covert Russian incidents have surged from 59 in March 2025 to over 210, including arson and cyberattacks, though officials say Putin is not seeking direct confrontation with NATO.