Leaders across Europe are sounding the alarm. They say that Vladimir Putin and Russia are becoming more dangerous. They are warning the public to be ready for an 'intensified threat.'

For a long time, the war between Russia and Ukraine felt like it was happening far away from most of Europe. Now, officials say that is changing. They believe Russia is looking to escalate—or turn up the heat—on its aggression. This doesn't just mean more fighting in Ukraine; it means Russia is pushing boundaries that involve the rest of the continent.

CNN reports that the risk of a 'misstep' is growing. This is a polite way of saying that a mistake, or a clash, could happen at any moment. If Russia does something too bold, it could accidentally trigger a much larger fight.

NATO, the group of countries that includes the U.S. and most of Europe, is in the middle of a big internal debate. They are trying to figure out how to react. If they do too little, they look weak. If they do too much, they might make the situation worse and pull more countries into a direct war.

Leaders are now being honest with their citizens. They want people to know that the situation is serious. They are asking their countries to stay alert. The main question remains: If Russia keeps pushing, how will the West push back? Right now, that is the big problem every leader is trying to solve.

Source: politico.eu