Putin’s goal has always been a greater Russia
An interview with Ann Linde, a Swedish politician of the Social Democratic Party and former minister for foreign affairs. Interviewer: Adam Reichardt
December 8, 2025 -
Adam Reichardt
Ann Linde
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InterviewsIssue 6 2025Magazine
ADAM REICHARDT: We are seeing a rise in Russian provocations in Europe. There were drone incursions into Poland, jets over Estonia, drones in Romania, and even incidents near Denmark – as the assault on Ukraine continues. Do you think Russia is testing NATO and the EU with these actions? And how do you assess the response so far?
ANN LINDE: I think Russia is testing both NATO’s solidarity and its response, particularly to see whether it can exhaust member states economically. Drones can cost even a few thousand euros, while some of those intercepted over Poland were brought down by interceptors worth significantly more, in the millions. If cheap drones force such expensive reactions, that’s a clear way to weaken our defence potential. At the same time, the incident in Poland showed NATO’s unity and readiness: German, Dutch, Italian, and other allies quickly came to Poland’s aid, and of roughly 20 drones, nearly half were shot down. It was a rapid and coordinated response. The second point is that drone defence needs to be accelerated. Sweden already has such a system in place to protect Gotland, an island of strategic importance east of the mainland, where just last week we held a military exercise. There is also a proposal to create a “drone wall”, particularly for countries bordering Russia. In this sense, the recent incursion was a wake-up call, since most NATO members have not prioritized the drone threat.
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