Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melniks stated to the LETA agency that a direct military attack by Russia on NATO is currently impossible. According to him, this conclusion is based on an assessment of the current military situation, not on a desire to reassure the public. The minister noted that the Russian armed forces continue to conduct a full-scale war against Ukraine, which, he said, effectively strikes at Russian logistics and remote military facilities. This, Melniks believes, prevents Russia from developing new large-scale offensive operations. According to the Defense Minister, for Russia to attack NATO countries, it would have to redeploy some troops from Ukraine, concentrate forces at the borders of the Baltic states, and prepare a large-scale operation. Such actions, in his opinion, would not go unnoticed by the North Atlantic Alliance. Moreover, such a troop redeployment would provide Ukraine with additional opportunities for its own offensive actions. For this reason, the minister believes that opening a second major front would be a serious strategic mistake for Russia. This does not mean that there are no longer any threats. According to Melniks, Russia is already using other methods of pressure, including hybrid ones. He cited illegal migration as an example and did not rule out other provocations. The minister emphasized that Latvian security forces are ready to respond to such scenarios. He stated that in the event of drones appearing, they would be destroyed, and in the case of attempts by so-called 'little green men' to infiltrate, they would be detained or neutralized by law enforcement and special services. At the same time, Melniks believes that in the long term, Russia will be able to restore its military potential. This is why NATO continues to strengthen its defense and enhance its deterrence capabilities. In fact, this concerns two different time horizons: the minister currently does not see an immediate threat of a large-scale military attack, but emphasizes the need to prepare for future risks and maintain a high level of defense capability. According to the Defense Minister, it is impossible to predict future decisions by the Russian leadership, so Latvia and its allies must be prepared for both hybrid provocations and to defend the country's territory if necessary. In the minister's assessment, the current situation does not provide grounds to expect a direct military attack by Russia on NATO in the near future. However, Latvia and the allied countries continue to strengthen their defense, based on the premise that Russia's military potential may be restored in the future.