The U.S. has pivoted policy to focus more northward. In 2018, it resuscitated the U.S. Navy's Second Fleet to counter Russia, including in the Arctic, closely linked with the establishment of NATO's newest command, the Virginia -headquartered Joint Force Command Norfolk.

Two German fighter jets were scrambled to the Romanian-Ukrainian border on Tuesday night in response to a Russian drone attack in the frontier region.

Moscow continues to say that the presence of any western troops in Ukraine is unacceptable, however, and accuses Kyiv and European capitals of trying to undermine the attempts of Mr Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin to end the war and rebuild US-Russia relations.

"In connection with the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory – including with the use of hypersonic missiles – aircraft of the Polish Air Force and allied aviation are operating in Polish airspace,

NATO scrambled two German Eurofighter jets in response to Russian airstrikes near Ukraine's border with Romania overnight into Wednesday. The jets were activated after Russian weapons systems approached Romanian airspace.

NATO Chiefs of Defense reaffirmed support for Ukraine in a virtual meeting led by Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, joined by Gen. Dan Caine and all 32 allied leaders.

Rather than exploiting Russia’s weaknesses, a drone-centric NATO could be playing to Russia’s strengths, some experts warn.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday NATO membership for Ukraine was not under discussion but that there was a discussion on "Article 5" type security guarantees for the country that Russia invaded in February 2022.