Putin tests article 5 of NATO with drone strikes before Trump sanctions

Days before the United States preparing new severe sanctions related to war in Ukraine, the Russian Vladimir Putin, whether intentionally or simply, has tested the political will of the collective NATO defense guarantee, article 5.

In recent days, the drones launched from the Russian aligned state in Bélarus have pierced Lithuanian airspace, arousing alarms from political and military leaders in the region. A drone crossed about 100 kilometers, strolling in a disturbing way on Vilnius carrying two kilograms of explosives and finally crashed into a military training area. Earlier in July, another drone forced the evacuation of high -level officials when he crashed near the border crossing of Šumskas.

Simultaneously, the Russian forces struck a Ukrainian gas deposit located a few meters from the border of Romania half a long distance, a strike which sparked warnings and prompted the Romanian F-16s to patrol nearby.

Although these seem to be isolated incidents, observers indicate a disturbing model. Russian drones have derived – or perhaps even directed – in NATO airspace before, and NATO’s response was smothered.

The new Romanian law may have avoided NATO’s conflict with Russia after border strikes

Russian drones attacked the Izmail region of Ukraine, just half a thousand from the border of Romania this week. (Reuters)

Andrew d’Anieri, associate director of the Eurasia Center for the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital that although it is not clear if Putin openly tests article 5, his apparent lack of prudence about these actions is indicative.

“The kind of alarming thing is that we have not seen any real NATO response to any of these elements,” said Anieri.

The Lithuanian Minister of Defense Dovilė Šakalienė, while stressing that there is no evidence suggesting that the last drone was intentionally raped, said: “This is an unprecedented and alarming incident”, especially since the drone flew over one kilometer from the president’s residence.

Describing behavior as “reckless drone incursions”, she warned that they were equivalent to “a direct test of NATO determination”. In response, Lithuania has undertaken to examine its defensive protocols and urged NATO to strengthen its air defenses as a clear message that the alliance is ready to protect every centimeter from its territory.

Romania, having endured spills of repeated drones, has adopted a law, which can empower its forces to intercept or destroy unauthorized drones. Consequently, no foray occurred as part of the last strike near its border.

Bruno Kahl, head of the Federal Intelligence of Germany, has sounded the alarm for months. In November 2024, Kahl warned that the growing use of hybrid tactics by Russia – ranging from sabotage and cyber attacks to disinformation – raises the probability that NATO can finally feel obliged to invoke article 5.

NATO jets rushed in the largest Russian drone attack against Ukraine

The Kremlin suggested that President Donald Trump on the right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will come together soon. (Kremlin Press Office / Handout / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)

More recently, his warnings have intensified. In June 2025, he told the media that Moscow seemed determined to put the unity and collective defense of NATO in the test. Kahl revealed that Russian officials seem to doubt that the alliance would respect article 5 and could rather deploy secret measures – “small green men” or hybrid provocations – to probe NATO’s response, rather than launching manifest invasions.

This perspective was taken up by the former Lithuanian ambassador Eitvydas Bajarūnas, who told Fox News Digital that even if drone events were not intentional, their psychological force was real.

“It will be the future of war in Eastern Europe,” he said. “We might not expect an immediate Russian attack, we could make Russia test how institutions react, how the public reacts, even. Russia could use these even accidental drone incursions in Baltic Avoid Space, to consolidate public anxiety.”

The Bajarunas also called for a whole NATO response. “These are forays in NATO territory. This is why we should not only think of it as a national response, but also allies, the response of all NATO.”

Putin’s hybrid probes, drone flights to border strikes, could well mark the new battlefield in Eastern Europe, where the test is not one of the tanks or missiles, but unity, preparation and political will.

President Donald Trump gave Putin until Friday for a breakthrough in peace negotiations, after which he promised to promulgate steep sanctions.

Trump suggested this week that he would target war chests supported by Putin oil. “Putin will stop killing people if you get energy at $ 10 still a barrel. He will have no choice because his stubborn economy,” the president “Squawk Box” of CNBC told.

Russia has attacked Ukraine using Iranian manufacturing Shahed drones, some of which have been transformed into NATO territory. (Getty Images)

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However, the president remained optimistic about negotiations after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, went to Russia to meet Putin. “Great progress has been made!” Trump promised. “Everyone is suitable for this war must end, and we will work there in the days and weeks to come.”

The Kremlin said Trump and Putin will soon meet face to face for negotiations for the first time in this administration.