GSSC Director Linas Kojala, in an interview with TVP World given on the sidelines of the Impact Leading Mindsconference in Warsaw, discussed Russia’s increasingly frequent hybrid activities in Europe, the credibility of NATO deterrence, and the need for the West to respond more firmly to Moscow’s actions.
“What provokes Russia is weakness. Whenever Russia sees that we are hesitant to make it clear that Russia is an aggressor not only against Ukraine but also against us, we are adding more fuel to the fire,” Kojala said.
The interview also addressed the threat posed by Russia to the Baltic states and to NATO as a whole. According to Kojala, it is unhelpful to separate different geographical areas of the Alliance or speculate about which NATO country could become the “first target.” A threat to one NATO member should be regarded as a threat to the entire Alliance, and this understanding is essential to maintaining the credibility of collective defence.
Watch the full interview with TVP World here.