Hungary plans to deploy an air defense system in the northeastern region of the country, as the defense minister indicated that the risk of escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is “greater than ever.”

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated his nuclear strike policy in response to a wider array of conventional attacks, following the U.S. decision to permit Ukraine to launch American missiles deep into Russian territory.

Moscow reported that Ukraine utilized U.S. ATACMS missiles for the first time on Tuesday, an action viewed by Russia as a significant escalation of the conflict.

“We remain hopeful for a swift resolution through diplomatic means rather than military action,” stated Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky in a video shared on his Facebook page late Wednesday.

“Nevertheless, to prepare for all eventualities, I have ordered the installation of the recently acquired air control and defense systems, along with their associated capabilities, in the northeast,” he added after a meeting of the Defense Council convened by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to address the situation in Ukraine.

“The threat of escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war is at an unprecedented level,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky remarked.

As a member of NATO and the European Union, Hungary shares a border with Ukraine.

The minister did not disclose the specific components of Hungary’s air defense system that would be deployed in the northeast.

Hungary’s military is currently undergoing modernization and last year purchased French Mistral air defense systems in collaboration with four other EU nations. In 2020, Hungary also committed to acquiring NASAMS air defense systems from Norway’s Kongsberg and U.S. defense contractor Raytheon Technologies.