Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter claims Russia is preparing to strike European facilities producing drones for Ukraine with tacit approval from the Trump administration.
Ritter, a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and author, said Russia has published a list of European drone production facilities that are now potential targets for Russian military strikes. He argued these facilities represent legitimate military targets since European nations supplying drones to Ukraine are committing acts of war against Russia under international law.
"What Europe is doing, just so everybody understands, is an act of war," Ritter said during an interview. "They are active participants in a conflict."
The former inspector contended that a Russian strike on NATO facilities would likely not trigger Article 5 collective defense provisions, since individual European nations are operating outside the official NATO framework. He claimed the United States under President Trump would not come to Europe's defense if Russia strikes these drone production facilities.
"Trump has given the Russians a blank check," Ritter said, suggesting the administration has provided tacit approval for Russian operations aimed at creating conditions for a peace deal before the November 2026 elections.
Ritter argued that Russia is preparing for a major offensive in Ukraine's Donbas region this summer aimed at taking the entire territory. He said Moscow views European drone facilities as critical vulnerabilities that must be addressed through decisive military action.
The former weapons inspector also said that European nations lack the military capacity and defense industry to effectively respond to Russian aggression. He claimed the recent conflict involving Iran has exacerbated Europe's energy security crisis, with aviation fuel supplies potentially running out within six weeks.
