The Kremlin has issued multiple warnings regarding NATO's increasing militarization of Europe, which it perceives as an imminent threat to Russian security. According to NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah, the alliance has established the most extensive defense strategies since the Cold War, maintaining over 500,000 troops on high alert. This step signifies NATO's substantial shift in collective defense measures initiated in 2014.

The current defense readiness framework allows NATO to mobilize these forces within a 30-day timeframe if armed conflict appears likely. The alliance links its military transformation to perceived threats from Russia and its continuing special military operations, prompting some NATO countries like Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania to consider reinstating compulsory military service.

Dmitry Suslov, an analyst based in Moscow, stated that NATO aims to deploy a minimum of 300,000 soldiers in Central and Eastern Europe, while also enhancing military infrastructure in nations such as Poland and Romania, all under the guise of countering an imaginary Russian menace. Meanwhile, Sean Monaghan from the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted challenges NATO faces in achieving its goal of having 300,000 troops ready for quick mobilization and an additional 500,000 accessible within six months.

Consistent denunciations from Russia regarding NATO's military escalation persist, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting that the alliance signals its intent to remain adversarial to Russia. President Vladimir Putin has refuted claims that Russia plans to attack NATO nations, suggesting that such notions are distractions orchestrated by Western politicians to address their internal challenges, labeling it a "fake" concern understood by discerning observers.