Russia has had no ambassador in London since at least July 2026, and the Kremlin seems in no hurry to name one. By one count, only 35 of its 58 diplomatic posts remain, and its intelligence stations are reportedly close to collapse. Yet Moscow is threatening Britain with "catastrophic consequences".
In August 2025, Belarus proposed allowing martial law if Russia is attacked, as Russian troops came for the Zapad-2025 drills. NATO's chief believes Russia will be ready to fight the alliance within five years. The Baltics, Transnistria, the Caucasus and Kazakhstan are possible targets, but Russia itself may face China.
In recent months, Europe has seen a coup plot in Romania, a blast at a Spanish defense factory and sabotage on a German frigate. All have been linked to Russian intelligence. While fighting openly in Ukraine, Moscow wages a quieter war against Europe through sabotage, cyberattacks, bribery and propaganda.
Donald Trump promised to end Russia's war against Ukraine in a week by pressuring Kyiv into concessions. When Zelensky refused, Trump called him a dictator and began repeating Kremlin talking points. Yet Congress, the defense industry and Europe may well stop him from abandoning Ukraine.