According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin is “escalating its rhetoric, threatening NATO states alongside the kinetic escalation of Russia’s recent drone incursion into Poland.”

Earlier today, Russian Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned on social media that a Polish-proposed no-fly zone over Ukraine, which would allow NATO aircraft to target Russian drones, would “mean only one thing — a war between NATO and Russia.” Medvedev also threatened that Russia would pursue any European Union member providing Ukraine with loans backed by seized Russian assets in “all possible international and national courts,” adding that in some cases, Russia might “bypass court procedure,” implying potential kinetic action against Europe.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday that “NATO is at war with Russia” and is “de facto involved” in the conflict by supporting Ukraine. Like Medvedev, Peskov condemned European efforts to seize frozen Russian assets, warning that “such steps will not go unnoticed [by Russia].”