For 9 weeks, US President Joe Biden and Western allies have noted the need to ensure that the Russian war against Ukraine remains within Ukrainian borders.. Now fear is growing in Washington and European capitals that the conflict could escalate into a wider war, expanding into neighboring countries and cyberspace.. In addition, Moscow may cut off gas supplies to NATO countries..

In the long run, such an expansion could escalate into a more direct conflict between Washington and Moscow, reminiscent of the Cold War, in which each side will try to weaken the other.. The New York Times writes about it.

Over the past three days, the US Secretary of Defense has called for efforts aimed at reducing the capabilities of the Russian army so that it will lose its ability to invade neighboring countries for many years.. Russia also cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, which joined NATO after the collapse of the USSR. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was quick to denounce it as a tool of blackmail.. Meanwhile, explosions thundered in Transnistria on the territory of Moldova, which could become a new victim of Moscow's aggression. And in Russia itself, oil depots and even a rocket factory exploded under mysterious circumstances.. Also, Moscow has increasingly begun to remind the world of its size and nuclear arsenal, hinting that if Putin's conventional forces suffer a humiliating defeat, he has another trump card..

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US and European officials say they see no evidence that Russia is mobilizing its field nuclear forces. But behind the scenes, discussions are already underway on how the West should respond if Moscow conducts nuclear tests or a demonstrative explosion over the Black Sea or in Ukraine..

“No one wants this war to become even bigger than it already is.. And certainly no one wants or at least should not want it to go nuclear,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said..

Attempts to negotiate a diplomatic solution, or at least a truce, which were made by the leaders of France, Israel and Turkey, did not produce results.. Ukrainian and Russian forces are preparing for a long-term conflict. In the east and south, an artillery war is likely to break out, where Russia has sent its army after a humiliating retreat from the outskirts of Kyiv and other key cities..

“Putin does not want to retreat, nor do Ukrainians. So there will be more bloodshed,” said Chatham House director Robin Niblett..

At the same time, the desire of the United States and Europe to help Ukraine defeat Russia has grown stronger, especially after the atrocities in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities, which became known after the Russian retreat.. Even Germany abandoned its old position and approved the sending of artillery systems and armored vehicles through Ukraine.

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According to the director of the European Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Seth Jones, the risk of "

Russian losses are getting bigger. And the United States is sending more powerful weapons, because of which these losses will be even greater,” he said..

According to Jones, sooner or later, Russian military intelligence may begin to attack these supplies on the territory of NATO countries.. Not all lines of communication between Washington and Moscow were severed. US and Russia exchange prisoners. Ex-Marine Trevor Reed exchanged in Turkey for Russian pilot accused by Justice Department of drug trafficking. But even this episode was very reminiscent of the Cold War, to which Washington and Moscow seem to have returned.. Princeton University professor Stephen Kotkin recently remarked that “the end of the first Cold War was a mirage.”. Because attempts to integrate Russia into the Western world have failed. Biden himself is also sure that Putin wants to go beyond Ukraine. On the day the Russian invasion began, the US president said the invasion was “undisguised aggression, Putin’s desire to build an empire at any cost.”.

But while the war is going on in the geographical borders of Ukraine. The US and its allies say their goal is to force Russia to withdraw its troops " Putin condemned Western efforts to help the Ukrainian army. However, he did not attack supply lines in NATO territory..

Now there are signs that this restraint will soon come to an end..

When Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, it was a clear warning to Germany, heavily dependent on Russian energy, that it could be next.. Russia is using its most economic leverage to intimidate Eastern and Western Europe by hinting that next winter will be very cold for them.. Washington believes that gas blackmail aims to divide NATO allies, which have so far been consolidated.