Stray Drones Push Ukraine's War Onto NATO's Doorstep

Drones launched by both Russia and Ukraine are increasingly straying across borders into countries that are not party to the war, the New York Times reports. Lithuania, Romania and other states near the front are finding the unmanned aircraft overhead with rising frequency, and residents in border regions are seeking shelter as the incursions multiply.

The incidents come at a sensitive moment for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Each violation forces member governments to decide whether to treat a stray drone as an accident or an attack, a judgment that could draw the alliance directly into the conflict.

Moscow, for its part, blames Europe for the diplomatic deadlock. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European governments prefer to concentrate on continuing the war rather than on negotiations and that the European Union is far from ready to mediate a settlement in Ukraine. Kyiv and Western governments respond that Russia's continued strikes are the obstacle to talks.

The drone problem adds to a structural shift. As Washington accelerates its military withdrawal from Europe, frontline states face a widening security gap at the same time that the physical effects of the war reach their territory.