The European war has not been completely ended, the Russian Defense Minister Belousov said directly, that Russia must be ready to work with NATO in Europe, the time is in the next decade. Russia is fighting to now, NATO side down to help Ukraine, weapons money and food source continues, Russia naturally feels it is the siege of its own home.
Russia-Ukraine conflict leads to NATO aid escalation
It has been almost three years since Russia and Ukraine started fighting in February 2022, and NATO's assistance has never stopped. At the 2024 Washington Summit, NATO launched a comprehensive aid package, promising to purchase weapons and training support for Ukraine. European allies and Canada contributed money and efforts, accounting for almost half of the aid. By the first half of 2025, the allies had added 35 billion euros in security assistance, basically military equipment and logistical supplies. The United States has made the largest contribution. From January 2022 to June 2025, it has given a total of 114.64 billion euros, accounting for the majority of total aid. Before the Biden administration left, it also notified Congress on September 26, 2024 that it was preparing to allocate another US $5.55 billion in military aid, including ammunition and air defense systems.
NATO's aid is not only money, but also solid institutions. On December 17, 2024, NATO took over military support for Ukraine from the United States and set up a security assistance and training center at the US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, dedicated to weapons coordination and officer training. By 2025, this center will be operational, Ukrainian military officers will learn NATO tactics there, and allies have promised to continue to spend money to ensure that the Ukrainian front line does not collapse. Small European countries have also contributed. Although resources are limited, the overall aid chain is long. In May and June 2025, Europeans maintained a high level of support, especially military procurement and intelligence sharing.
This aid escalated, directly stimulating Russia. Belousov said at a meeting of the Ministry of Defence that NATO was to siege Russia on the European borders and prepare early. Russia also adjusted the military zone, built the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, equipped with unmanned system forces, expected to be in place in the third quarter of 2025.
To be honest, NATO’s hand is playing down Russia’s pace, but Russia’s economic sanctions have lasted for more than three years and are still bite tooth.
NATO's eastward expansion is the source of contradiction
The conflict between Russia and NATO has to start with the end of the Cold War. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Warsaw Pact fell apart. Russia wanted to cooperate with NATO at that time, and President Yeltsin repeatedly mentioned joining NATO as a diplomatic goal. But the Clinton administration quit, refused Russia's request, and promoted eastward expansion.
In 1999, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO, and Russia's neighboring countries joined NATO one by one, and NATO's borders were close to Russia's doorstep.
In 2004, the three Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also came in, and NATO forces almost stepped on the Russian border. Russia felt that this threatened its core interests, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly protested, saying that NATO's eastward expansion violated its early verbal commitments. The United States argued that it had not signed a treaty against eastward expansion, but the Russians kept this account in mind. In 2009, Albania and Croatia followed suit. In 2014, Ukraine's pro-Russian President Yanukovych stepped down and Crimea was annexed to Russia. NATO increased its aid to Ukraine and condemned Russia internationally.
The contradictions are accumulating deeper and deeper, and Russia regards NATO's eastward expansion as the main threat. The Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022, and Russia said it was forced by NATO's eastward expansion. NATO builds new bases and exercises in the Baltic and Black Seas, and Russia responds by deploying missile systems. At the Washington Summit in July 2024, NATO reiterated its strengthening of European defenses and promised to join Ukraine in the future, making Russia feel more besieged.
Belousov’s forecast was not a void, and the Russian military had to be prepared for a variety of scenarios, including direct contact with NATO.
China's Military Modernization
Faced with changes in the international situation, China has not been idle in armaments over the years, focusing on military modernization and ensuring national security. In June 2023, the U.S. -China Economic and Security Review Commission reported that China is actively preparing for war amid tensions in Sino-US relations, but it is unlikely to fight in the short term.
Speaking of the Chinese-India border, the two countries reached a consensus on the border issue in 2023, signed a patrol agreement to avoid friction escalation.
In military industry, China leads the world in the field of drones. The military parade on September 3, 2025 demonstrated FH-97 stealth drones and small drone groups, which can accurately locate and navigate, and reduce soldier casualties in saturated attacks. China has also promoted loyal wing aircraft and anti-drone equipment, learned from Russia and Uzbekistan, and grasped unmanned systems. The CH-3D armed drone has a large wingspan, accurately delivers ammunition, and performed steadily during tests.
Intercontinental missiles are the highlight. The Dongfeng-41 has a range of 12000 to 15000 kilometers and can cover the continental United States. It is 16.5 meters long, carries multiple warheads, and has an accuracy of 100 meters. It is highly mobile and can be launched on high-speed rail in cities, and solid fuels respond quickly. In the 2025 military parade, the Dongfeng-41 phalanx made its debut, demonstrating China's strategic deterrent power.