The commander of NATO forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli, stated that Russia will pose a "long-term threat" regardless of the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict. Christopher Cavoli, during a discussion session before the NATO summit in Washington in the summer of 2024, said: "I believe that Russia will constitute a long-term threat to the alliance, and we will face a significant challenge in the coming years." He added: "Russia will seek to increase the size of its armed forces, and it has already announced this, and it will continue to pose a threat to the alliance, regardless of the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict."