WW3 fears explode as NATO discusses 'pre-emptive strikes' on Russia: 'Preparing for war'

NATO is actively considering pre-emptive strikes against Russia in response to Moscow's escalating sabotage and cyber campaign across Europe, the alliance's most senior military officer has said. Tensions between NATO and the Kremlin have intensified amid a surge in hybrid threats.

These include the severing of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, drone incursions over Poland and Germany, arson at Ukrainian-linked sites in the UK, and widespread cyber intrusions. A GLOBSEC report identified more than 110 sabotage incidents in Europe from January 2022 to July 2025, with Poland and France most affected.

READ MORE: Trump to send son-in-law Jared Kushner to meet Putin

READ MORE: Brutal moment Russians blown up as they crow how much 'we like it' in

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of NATO's Military Committee, said: "We are studying everything." He told the Financial Times on Monday: "On cyber, we are kind of reactive. Being more aggressive or being proactive instead of reactive is something that we are thinking about."

Mr Dragone said a pre-emptive strike could, in certain cases, qualify as defensive action, although it lies "further away from our normal way of thinking and behaviour". He highlighted challenges including "legal framework, jurisdictional framework" but noted cyber retaliation as a simpler option, given NATO members' capabilities.

Russia condemned the remarks as escalatory. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said they represented "an extremely irresponsible step" indicating NATO's "readiness to continue moving towards escalation" and a "deliberate attempt to undermine efforts to overcome the Ukrainian crisis".

Russia's ambassador to Belgium, Denis Gonchar, said NATO was "preparing for a major war with Russia" and "intimidating its population with the Kremlin's non-existent plans to attack the alliance countries".

The rhetoric coincides with US-led peace efforts in Ukraine. President Donald Trump said on December 1 that talks were "going along well" after "productive" meetings in Florida on November 30-December 1 with Ukrainian officials.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, December 2, to discuss a revised peace framework.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called territorial demands the "toughest part" of any deal, with Russia holding around 19 % of Ukrainian land.

Eastern NATO allies have urged a shift from "reactivity". One Baltic diplomat said: "If all we do is continue being reactive, we just invite Russia to keep trying, keep hurting us. Hybrid warfare is asymmetric - it costs them little, and us a lot. We need to be more inventive."

NATO's doctrine remains defensive and reactive, but Mr Dragone's comments signal internal debate on doctrinal change amid persistent threats.