NATO is openly helping Ukraine acquire weapons capable of destroying strategic targets deep inside Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. The latest joint arms development tender shows that the US-led bloc is actively integrating Ukraine into its structures, coming dangerously close to an open confrontation with Moscow, she warned.

Zakharova was referring to the €250,000 ($285,656) bidding contract announced in mid-June by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) – one of the bloc’s two strategic commands – in cooperation with the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC). Created in February 2025, JATEC openly describes itself as “the first joint NATO-Ukraine organization in the NATO Command Structure.”

Although the contract does not mention Russia directly, it contains a clear reference to enhancing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities with “solutions” capable of “persistent airport denial.” The project gives priority to various unmanned systems or loitering munitions capable of flying in signal-denied, electronic-warfare-contested environments and effectively striking runways, fuel reserves, and ground support facilities.

The tender stipulates that any “solutions” must be ready for combat deployment within 12 months and should not require extensive training for operators, with submissions due by late July.

The contract proves that NATO is accelerating Ukraine’s integration into its command structures as well as its military-industrial complex, Zakharova said on Monday. The bloc “is steadily losing what remains of its rationality and drifting into an increasingly high-risk zone” in a bid to turn Ukraine into a “testing ground” for emerging military technologies, she added.

However, NATO strategists are “clearly underestimating” the risk of further escalation of the Ukraine conflict into a direct confrontation with Moscow, the spokeswoman warned.

“With their recklessly aggressive actions, the Ukrainian-NATO partnership is giving the Russian military additional grounds to pay heightened attention to any enterprises involved in the development and production of weapons used against our country,” Zakharova said.

The development comes amid broader European militarization, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte consistently urging member states to adopt a “wartime mindset.” Top British and German defense officials recently urged citizens to accept “difficult choices” on military spending as NATO states move to hit targets of 5% of GDP. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed last year that Russia could attack a NATO member “as early as 2028,” insisting on the need for a costly military buildup.

Moscow has consistently denied any intention of attacking NATO, dismissing such claims as “nonsense” used to whip up anti-Russian hysteria. President Vladimir Putin warned last week that the bloc was no longer hiding its preparations for war with Russia and was using false claims about the supposed “Russian threat” to justify rampant militarization.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in February that Russia has “no reason” to attack Europe unless struck first. Earlier, he also warned that the EU was sliding into what he called a militarist “Fourth Reich.”