Russia Needs Just 5 Drones to Test NATO, Kuleba Says

Russia would not need to deploy hundreds of thousands of additional troops to test NATO’s resolve – just a handful of drones targeting critical infrastructure could be enough, Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, as he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of preparing for a broader confrontation with Europe.

In an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, Kuleba, who served as Ukraine’s foreign minister from 2020-24, said Russia’s growing anti-European propaganda and preparations for further conflict indicated that Moscow was escalating its pressure on European countries.

“Anti-European hysteria is being fueled in Russia, which I interpret as the preparation for a broader conflict with the rest of Europe,” Kuleba said. “We [Ukrainians] don’t have to drag you – Putin will drag you into the war.”

Kuleba said he did not expect Russia to launch a full-scale ground offensive beyond Ukraine.

Instead, he said that Moscow could target NATO countries with drones and missiles in an attempt to expose weaknesses in their security systems and test the alliance’s unity.

“The truth is that Russia does not need 400,000 more people to wage that war. It needs five drones,” he said.

Kuleba argued that such an attack could prompt European governments to call for NATO consultations or urge restraint, responses he believes could encourage further Russian escalation rather than deter it.

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He also cited a reported drone incident at Leipzig Airport in Germany in August as a sign of what he described as Russia’s growing preparation for a wider confrontation. He said Moscow was observing how European intelligence services and security forces respond to such incidents and learning from their reactions.

Kuleba says Putin is not seeking peace

Kuleba also expressed doubts that negotiations could persuade Putin to end the war against Ukraine, arguing that the Russian leader was not seeking a settlement or even a temporary pause in the fighting.

“He’s not looking for a solution, for a pause, and there will be no moment when he will start looking for it,” Kuleba said.

He contrasted Europe’s preference for solutions that benefit both sides with what he described as Putin’s zero-sum worldview, in which one side must win and the other must lose.

“For him, a solution that benefits both sides is not the best option. For him, the world works on the principle of victory and defeat,” Kuleba said.

He added that Europe needed to recognize this reality to develop more effective policies toward Russia.

Ukraine faces a costly winter as Russia targets energy infrastructure

Kuleba also warned that Ukraine was approaching what could be its harshest winter of the full-scale war as Russian attacks increasingly target the infrastructure that keeps cities functioning.

“The bombing of cities is a direct consequence of Russia’s failure to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield,” he added.

He argued that the attacks were intended not only to disrupt daily life in Ukraine but also to weaken the resolve of its international partners to continue supporting Kyiv.

“They don’t just want to turn out the lights in Ukraine. They want to paralyze the country,” Kuleba said.

He described the worst-case scenario as the collapse of essential urban systems, including electricity, water and drainage services.

Despite the risks, Kuleba said he believed Ukraine could endure the coming winter because of its size, mobility and ability to adapt to changing conditions.

“I believe Ukraine is too large, too mobile, and too adaptable. That’s why I think we’ll get through this winter,” he said, while warning that “the price will be much higher than last year.”