Russia's threats against European arms factories increase the risk of direct conflict with NATO

Security arrangement under which states commit to treat an attack on one as an attack on all, obliging joint response. Underpins alliances such as NATO and provisions of the UN Charter, making shared deterrence and coordinated military planning central instruments of international stability.

Russia's foreign ministry described European factories producing arms for Ukraine as potential military targets. President Putin subsequently said Russia was not planning an imminent attack on those factories. No particular facility has been reported attacked under this threat.