Putin Just Sent a Reminder He’s a Threat to NATO
Damage to vehicles following a Russian air strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Russia said it launched a “massive strike with high-precision, long-range, land- and sea-based weapons, including the Oreshnik,” against critical targets, according to a statement on Telegram.
Photographer: Andrew Kravchenko/BloombergOne central question about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has always been whether Vladimir Putin would be satisfied if allowed to succeed, or if he’d go further, aiming to collapse NATO from within and reestablish a sphere of influence for Moscow that just a few decades ago stretched deep into central Europe. More importantly, could he?
It was US General “Stormin’ Norman” Schwarzkopf who said he judged opponents by their capabilities, not their intentions, and on Thursday night Russia sent a reminder that it remains capable.