Europe on high alert ahead of escalation with Russia - and even possibility of invasion

European leaders are warning of a possible escalation with Russia, including direct military confrontation, amid a surge in hybrid attacks. NATO countries are preparing hospitals and conducting military exercises. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is considering reducing US forces in Europe by a third, accelerating independent rearmament projects on the continent.

European leaders have been warning in the past 24 hours of a possible escalation with Russia, and are increasing alertness in the face of the possibility of direct conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron said the Russian hybrid threat is growing, and mentioned the attack on a train near the Ukraine-Poland border. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia could launch drone and missile attacks against NATO countries while presenting them as "accidents." According to data, between January and August more than 100 hybrid incidents attributed to Russia were recorded across Europe. Meanwhile, Germany is preparing hospitals for the possibility of conflict, and Lithuania has updated its evacuation plans. The President of Latvia warned that Europe is not keeping pace with developments in drone warfare. American intelligence reports warned that Moscow is planning a limited attack on a NATO country in the coming years. Alongside the threats, NATO is facing growing pressure from Washington: President Trump is demanding allies raise their defense budgets to 5% of GDP and threatening to cut forces. The Secretary of Defense is considering reducing about 25,000 American troops in Europe. Doubts about US reliability are leading European countries to seek alternatives to American military technology, including through the "Freya" project to develop a ballistic missile defense system.