Washington, Aug. 8 -- US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be increasingly willing to authorise provocative actions that could spill onto NATO territory.

CBS, citing US officials briefed on the matter, reported that these actions could include hybrid operations, cyberattacks, and other deniable measures that fall short of a full-scale conventional military campaign. The assessments highlight a shift in Putin's risk calculus compared to just a few months ago, according to US officials.

These officials noted that the primary goal is likely not to trigger a broader war, but rather to test NATO's cohesion and evaluate the Trump administration's willingness to respond if a NATO ally comes under attac...