UNITED NATIONS – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned Tuesday that Russia could extend its military operations to other European nations, telling Fox News Digital that the threat of renewed attacks remains high as Moscow attempts to fracture European solidarity and erode backing for Ukraine.
During an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, conducted on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy addressed mounting concerns over potential Russian escalation beyond Ukraine’s borders.
“The risk of offensive actions—whether by drone, missile, or ground forces—is very high against countries bordering Russia or Belarus,” Zelenskyy stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands as they meet on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, US, in this handout released September 22, 2026. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)
Zelenskyy argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin, frustrated by his failure to achieve key military goals in Ukraine, may attempt to destabilize other parts of Europe to pressure Western governments into reducing their support for Kyiv.
“How does one divide Europe? By attacking someone else—to show that if you don’t stop us, we’ll go further,” Zelenskyy explained.
He cited increasing instances of cross-border drone activity targeting multiple European states as evidence that Moscow is already engaging in psychological warfare and probing defenses.
“Putin’s struggle in Ukraine makes him more dangerous. He needs to justify this war domestically, and escalation elsewhere becomes a tool for leverage,” Zelenskyy added.
Ukrainian and German soldiers are seen training on the Patriot air defense missile system at a military training area in Germany in June 2024. (Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)
When asked how European allies should prepare for such contingencies, Zelenskyy emphasized vigilance and responsiveness.
“Always respond. This isn’t about starting a war—it’s about preventing one. If you fail to react, they see weakness and press forward,” he warned.
The caution comes amid rising fears across Brussels and NATO capitals over deteriorating security conditions in Eastern Europe. Recent intelligence assessments suggest that Russia is actively rehearsing scenarios involving limited incursions into allied territory, particularly along NATO’s eastern flank.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed similar sentiments earlier this month, warning during an EU-Arctic Summit in Finland that Russia poses an evolving threat not only to Ukraine but to broader European stability. His remarks followed a suspected Russian drone strike near Leipzig/Halle Airport in early August—an incident officially attributed to Moscow on September 1.
President Donald Trump, left, greets Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also raised alarms in mid-September, claiming that Warsaw has intelligence indicating Russia plans to carry out false-flag drone or missile strikes on NATO members—including Poland—potentially framing them as accidents to test alliance cohesion.
These fears are not purely speculative. On September 8, Romania reported that a drone briefly entered its airspace before returning to Moldova and crashing. A week later, Italian fighter jets intercepted and downed an unidentified drone entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus; while officials believe it originated from Russia, Lithuanian authorities continue investigating.
Romanian naval forces destroy two suspected Russian Gerbera drones over the Black Sea, roughly 90 nautical miles off Constanta, according to East2West. (p)
Latvia’s president, Edgars Rinkēvičs, warned in a recent interview with The Guardian that many NATO states remain ill-equipped to counter modern drone technology, exposing vulnerabilities in current air defense strategies.
In his discussion with Trump, Zelenskyy reportedly floated the idea of a temporary moratorium on attacks against critical infrastructure targets on both sides, contingent upon reciprocal action from Moscow. While he expressed readiness to pursue such an arrangement, he remained skeptical of Russia’s willingness to comply.
Zelenskyy also acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding enhanced air defense cooperation, noting Trump’s apparent openness to facilitating additional Patriot missile systems for Ukraine ahead of the winter season. However, no formal commitments were disclosed at this time.
A U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile is launched during a live-fire exercise at the Chiupeng missile base in Pingtung County on Aug. 20, 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)
The heightened rhetoric coincides with intensified aerial bombardments between Russian and Ukrainian forces ahead of the UNGA, underscoring the urgency behind diplomatic efforts aimed at deescalation.
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