NATO MUST BE SOLID OR WAR IS 'INEVITABLE'

Shock warning as Russia launches spate of 'hybrid attacks' across Europe

- EXCLUSIVE From Marco Giannangeli DIPLOMATIC EDITOR IN TALLINN, ESTONIA

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CONFLICT with Russia is inevitable unless NATO demonstrates strength and unity in the face of Moscow's escalating provocations, defence experts warn.

Keir Giles, of the international affairs think tank Chatham House, said: "I fear a kinetic war with Russia is looking inevitable, because the measures to prevent such a war are still not being taken.

"Russia today has little to deter it from taking on the West should the US be neutralised as a factor." Mr Giles, author of Who Will Defend Europe?, added: "Despite the rhetoric and promises, we see little concretely achieved, as was shown when Poland experienced just a tiny fraction of the drone waves suffered by Ukraine every night.

"It would have no way of dealing with that scale of drone attack." And former Estonian deputy defence minister Lauri Almann said that all-out conflict could only be avoided "if we can show resolve and strength.

"Russia respects strength, and that's the only message that more or less has worked.

"But we might still have fun and games in the grey zone - they have a pretty bad record there because we haven't shown enough strength and commitment before."

Professor Mark Galeotti, author of Putin's Wars, also warned that Moscow's reckless decision-making makes conflict more likely. He said: "Russia does not actually want war but the more aggressive and reckless they are, the greater the risks.

"Putin didn't intend to be involved in this war in Ukraine. All kinds of calculations can be made that seem perfectly sensible but just happen to be deeply stupid."