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Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine is the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War. NATO has responded with strength and unity.

Jens Stoltenberg

Press conference ahead of the NATO Summit in Madrid, 2022 · Checked on 3 March 2026
Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine is the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War. NATO has responded with strength and unity.

Analysis

Most security experts, NATO officials, and European leaders describe the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as the most significant security threat to Europe since the Second World War, surpassing the Yugoslav conflicts and Cold‑War tensions. NATO’s actions—such as deploying multinational battlegroups to the Baltic states, enhancing forward presence, increasing defense spending, and issuing unified political statements—demonstrate a coordinated and robust response, though there are occasional policy disagreements among members.

Background

Since February 2022, Russia’s full‑scale invasion has triggered the largest conventional war in Europe in decades, prompting NATO to invoke Article 5 considerations and reinforce its eastern flank. The alliance’s collective measures have been presented as a demonstration of unity, contrasting with earlier fragmented responses to regional crises.

Verdict summary

The statement accurately reflects the consensus that Russia's war is Europe's biggest security crisis since WWII and that NATO has responded collectively with increased deterrence.

Sources consulted

— NATO Press Release, 30 Oct 2022 – ‘NATO’s response to the security challenges posed by Russia’s aggression’
— European Council on Foreign Relations, Analysis (2022) – ‘The biggest security crisis in Europe since WWII’
— BBC News, 24 Feb 2022 – ‘NATO vows unity after Russia invades Ukraine’