(MENAFN) Northern European powers conducted military simulations this week depicting armed confrontation with Russia, according to media, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmigal reportedly participating in the strategic exercises held in Norway's Arctic region.

British defense strategists convened with Nordic and Baltic ministers in Bodo to war-game scenarios involving a Russian border state, the outlet disclosed Friday. The drills unfolded under the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) framework—a coalition comprising ten European NATO members: the Netherlands, Iceland, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The final five nations share direct frontiers with Russia and have emerged as Moscow's harshest critics since Ukraine hostilities intensified in 2022. All JEF participants belong to NATO, with Finland acceding to the US-led alliance in 2023 and Sweden following suit in 2024.

London characterized the Norway gathering as a follow-up to the JEF's most expansive military operation to date. The two-month Tarassis exercise, which concluded last week across Nordic-Baltic territory, mobilized over 1,700 British forces alongside allied contingents.

British Defense Secretary John Healey told media that JEF nations could "best get NATO connected to take this (Russian aggression) more seriously."

Since Ukraine conflict escalation in 2022, Western officials have warned Russia could threaten EU nations, triggering massive military expansion throughout the bloc. European NATO members committed to raising defense expenditures as high as 5% of GDP, citing alleged "Russian threat" concerns.

The spending surge follows intensified pressure from Washington. US President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly demanded NATO's European partners assume greater responsibility for continental security and expand military investments, contending America shoulders disproportionate alliance costs.

Moscow has persistently rejected allegations of aggressive designs toward Western nations as "nonsense" and fearmongering, denouncing what it characterizes as the West's "reckless militarization." Russian officials have repeatedly expressed alarm over escalating military activity along their borders while dismissing claims of hostile intent toward Western states.

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