Former Ukraine PM: Putin Tests NATO, But “We Are Not Broken”

During a One Decision × Warsaw Security Forum livestream, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned that Russia’s drone incursions into NATO airspace are no accident, "Russia deliberately attacked NATO airspace [...] to test NATO’s resilience and NATO’s unity."

He pointed out that these incursions carry a message to nations: force them to abandon Ukraine or risk future aggression. Arseniy Yatsenyuk criticized early Western inaction, arguing that if Ukraine had been admitted to NATO sooner, much of the escalation might have been prevented.

Despite the strains of the Ukraine war, he emphasized his country's resilience and the population’s continued support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "We are tired. We are exhausted. But we are not broken." In September 2025, around 19-23 drones entered Polish airspace, triggering NATO’s Operation Eastern Sentry and the invocation of Article 4.

Against this backdrop, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove said the war "could be at a turning point," but cautioned that its trajectory depends on sustained, unified support from NATO and Western allies. For more insight from leading decision makers, subscribe to One Decision.