Are there plans of israel, USA and russia to attack europe?

Checked on January 14, 2026
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Executive summary

Russia has publicly signalled capabilities and produced military messaging that could be interpreted as preparation for strikes on European cities — for example, announcing deployment of the Oreshnik missile system described as able to hit London within minutes [1] — while the collected reporting contains no evidence that the United States or Israel are planning deliberate attacks on Europe; instead U.S. policy reporting highlights commitments to backstop European forces and competing priorities in Asia and the Middle East [1] [2]. Reporting also shows a heated information environment in which partisan and state-aligned outlets amplify worst-case narratives, so assessments must separate demonstrable military capabilities and doctrine from propaganda and speculation [3] [4].

1. Russia’s posture: explicit messaging, new systems and covert operations

Multiple outlets and analysts document Russian military messaging and activity that Western officials interpret as preparing for a possible confrontation with NATO, including the public announcement of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile system described as capable of striking London and other European cities and assessments that Russia is intensifying covert attacks on German infrastructure as possible preparatory steps for a future conflict [1] [5]. Independent think‑tank and monitoring pieces likewise note Moscow’s expanded military-technical ties and force posture that complicate European security calculations, and Western reporting records covert cyber and influence campaigns framed as part of potential preparation for a wider confrontation [6] [5]. Those are capabilities and signaling choices, not on-the-record declarations of intent to launch cross-border invasion of Europe, but they are credible indicators of escalation risk in the sources available [1] [5].

2. The United States: deterrence, pledges to Europe and competing theaters

The available reporting characterizes U.S. policy as focused on deterrence and reassurance toward Europe rather than planning attacks: U.S. officials met European leaders and offered a limited pledge to “backstop” European troops in Ukraine with U.S. military action if attacked, a posture framed as protective rather than offensive toward European states [1]. Other coverage emphasizes that U.S. strategic attention and depleted munitions stocks have been directed toward Asia and the Middle East, underscoring Washington’s priority tradeoffs rather than any designs to strike Europe [2] [7]. No source in the reporting presents evidence that the U.S. intends to attack European countries; instead, reporting points to reassurance commitments, alliance management and strategic competition with Russia and China [1] [2].

3. Israel: regional focus, not European operations in the record

Sources detail Israel’s regional campaigning, planning for operations in Gaza and evolving regional contingencies with Iran, but do not show Israeli plans to attack Europe [8] [9]. Reporting about Israel centers on near‑term operations, international stabilization force ideas and requests for munitions, not strikes against European states [10] [9]. Where Russian or other outlets assert broad conspiracies involving Israel and the U.S., those appear in partisan outlets and should be weighed against mainstream reporting that lacks corroboration for claims of plans targeting Europe [11] [4].

4. Information warfare, propaganda and the danger of conflating capability with intent

The record contains a mix of mainstream analyses and state‑aligned or partisan outlets that amplify fears — for example, Pravda pieces and similar commentary pushing narratives about Western plotting or European provocation [3] [11] [4]. Journalistic and think‑tank sources warn that great‑power competition includes messaging designed to coerce audiences and justify military moves; distinguishing declared capabilities (missiles, cyber tools) from explicit operational plans to attack sovereign European states is essential and the reporting shows capabilities and signaling more than clear evidence of imminent offensive plans against Europe by the U.S. or Israel [1] [5] [7].

5. Bottom line and reporting limits

Based on the material provided, Russia has publicly signalled and fielded systems and conducted activities that Western officials and analysts interpret as potential preparations for confrontation with NATO or strikes on European targets [1] [5], while the sources contain no direct evidence that the United States or Israel are planning attacks on Europe; instead they document U.S. assurances to allies, U.S. strategic prioritization elsewhere, and Israel’s regional operational focus [1] [2] [9]. This assessment is constrained by the sources supplied: they document capability, posture and political messaging but do not include classified plans or definitive proof of an intent to launch offensive strikes on European countries, so absolute conclusions about hidden operational plans cannot be made from the available public reporting [1] [5].

Want to dive deeper?
What specific capabilities does Russia’s Oreshnik missile system reportedly have and which European targets are named in reporting?
How have U.S. assurances to European NATO members changed since 2025, and what do officials mean by 'backstop' commitments?
Which media outlets are repeating unverified claims about Western or Israeli plans, and how can readers evaluate their credibility?