Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western partners to provide more air defense systems to halt Russian bombardments.

Troops from member countries train for shoulder-to-shoulder fighting, while disputes over spending and additional members plague the alliance.

But Russia is weakened by the Ukraine war and is in no position to attack NATO, experts say. Instead, the Russian president wants to weaken and undermine NATO from within, analysts believe. The era of relative peace and prosperity the West has enjoyed since the end of World War II may fast be coming to an end.