A barrage of Russian challenges in just three weeks has sounded an alarm in Europe, as US determination to face Moscow seems to be fading under Donald Trump.

From drones in Poland and Romania, to violations of the airspace of Estonia and the harassment of German frigate in the Baltic, Moscow’s movements are treated as deliberate challenges that test NATO reflexes and European governments.

Russian actions has raised concern in European capitals, where officials fear that Moscow is stepping up its offensive stance towards Europe, while US determination to confront it under President Trump.

The concern was extended to Scandinavia this week. Airports in Denmark and Norway closed due to unexplained drones, with the Danish prime minister declaring that Russia could not be excluded. The Kremlin has denied any involvement, rejecting European concerns about recent incidents as “excessive hysteria”.

However, no other country in Europe, except Ukraine, is currently more strongly feeling the shadow of Russian power than Moldova, the New York Times notes.

Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Moldova will decide whether the country of 2.4 million residents and former Soviet Republic will continue its march to the European Union under President Maya Sandu or return to Moscow’s influence.

Russia has targeted the pro -European Sandu party, launching a storm of operations to weaken its government, which has intensified as the ballot is approaching.

EU and NATO are looking for an answer

Just a few days after the incident with the drones in Poland, Italian F-35 pilots took a hurry over the Gulf of Finland to intercept Russian MIG-31s ​​who violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes. The Italian pilots approached such a close distance that they allowed them to see the Russians.

The Russian aircraft, which had turned off the signal relay systems, were identified as soon as they entered the airspace of Estonia, said Colonel Gaetano Farina, commander of the NATO patrol mission. The two Italian fighters shook their wings, executing the internationally recognized maneuvering. The Russian pilots eventually allowed the Italian aircraft to accompany them back to the international airspace and the Russian side over Kaliningrad.

As the Russian fighters were inside Estonia’s airspace, reaching a depth of about five miles, Italian pilots estimated their weapons, Colonel Gaetano Farina said. According to him, the aircraft brought air-to-air missiles rather than bombs, an element that, as Estonian officials noted, shows that an attack on civilians is considered extremely unlikely.

Russia has denied that it has violated international airspace, causing Estonia’s rage, which warns that the Russian invasion may not stop in Ukraine. Estonia is sharing 183 miles with Russia.

At the same time, cracks in Europe are beginning to appear on how to answer Russia. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski threatened this week with military action against any Russian aircraft entering the Polish FIR in the future.

On the contrary, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that the downing of Russian aircraft would be counterproductive and called on NATO partners not to fall into the “escalation trap” which, he said, was set up by Russian President Vladimir.

“Prudence is not cowardice, but responsibility towards your country and peace in Europe,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

However, in a folding of the previous attitude and a sample of the seriousness of the situation, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrida announced plans on Saturday to revise flight security laws to give the armed forces to form a formal role.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who warned NATO and the European Union on Saturday and the European Union that “any aggression against my country would have a decisive response” further.

“Russia is accused of almost planning to attack the North Atlantic Alliance and European Union countries. President Putin has repeatedly rejected these challenges. “

In fact, he threatened that anyone who tries to break Russian aircraft inside the country’s airspace “will regret it bitter”

Nervousness in Europe also partially stems from questions about whether the United States, Western Europe’s security guarantor from World War II, will respond to a Russian attack under Donald Trump, who has been skeptical of NATO.

Trump managed to mitigate European leaders’ concerns this week by calling the Russian forces “paper tiger” and saying that Ukraine can recover its territories with the help of Europe. At the same time, he argued that NATO countries should be shooting Russian aircraft that violate their airspace. But when he was asked if he would support a Member State that would go on, he replied: “It depends on the circumstances.”

The European allies, however, are demanding a clearer and unmistakable support. Zigimadas Pavilionis, a former Lithuanian ambassador to the US and current MP, commented that the warm welcome of Trump to Vladimir Putin at the Alaska Summit last month only led to further escalation, with increased missions.

“I always defend America,” he said. “But I also need some action from my favorite America.”

Increases NATO’s presence in the Baltic

In one latest development, NATO announced today that it is upgrading its mission to the Baltic Sea with an anti -aircraft frigate and others in response to unmanned aircraft in Denmark.

Unknown unmanned aircraft were observed over Denmark’s largest military base last night, according to police, after several corresponding overflows at airports this week.

In response, NATO “will have an even increased vigilance with new multipurpose inside the Baltic Sea,” said a statement from the North Atlantic Alliance sent by email to Reuters.

The Alliance said the new media includes “information platforms, surveillance and recognition and at least one anti -aircraft frigate”.

A NATO spokesman said they would not provide details of which countries are contributing to the extra means.