In this episode of The New Medieval Ledger, host Samuel Dempsey speaks with leading European security analyst Maria Martisiute about what may already be war between Russia and NATO. From recent Russian drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace, to NATO’s reactive launch of Operation Eastern Sentry and the EU’s announcement of a Drone Wall by 2027, they examine whether Europe is responding with the urgency the moment demands. Maria warns that Europe has “not done its homework”—arguing that the continent’s lack of initiative, fragmented defense systems, and overreliance on the U.S. is creating dangerous vulnerabilities.Maria is a Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre, specializing in defence, security, and foreign affairs. With over a decade of experience across NATO, the EU, national governments, and NGOs, she previously led reform efforts within NATO’s cooperative security trust funds and worked on defence sector reform with partners in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. She has also contributed to EU strategic infrastructure policy at the European Commission, supported crisis response efforts in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and promotes people-to-people diplomacyThe discussion also tackles the deeper strategic cracks in the transatlantic relationship: the presence of U.S. military observers at Russia’s Zapad 2025, the White House hosting Germany’s Kremlin-friendly AfD party, and the total absence of U.S. forces in NATO’s Eastern Sentry response. Maria and Samuel explore what it would take for Europe to stand on its own—arguing that Europe may need to spend 3–4x Russia’s defense budget to match its war economy. It's an important and timely discussion.