Putin may strike NATO country during war with Ukraine — diplomat Chaly

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"I will say the key thing: I am sure that as soon as the situation in Ukraine remains like this, i.e. dynamically, and there is a constant trench warfare, no movement, and in this situation, Russia has 460,000 people on our territory in defense and it is consolidating itself despite the fact that we have no means to liberate our land. They are concentrating on a parallel attack on NATO countries. It's not like they say that if Ukraine loses, then NATO countries will follow. No, the formula is different. Ukraine will not lose, despite the protracted war. Ukraine wins, it will win anyway, and you will be hit. This is what they underestimate," the diplomat emphasized.

In his opinion, Putin could strike a NATO country during a war with Ukraine.

"I'm not claiming, and I don't have any confidential information, but the first fact is that there were operational plans for Russia to attack Estonia. This is the fact and I can confirm it. And it was only by fate that they targeted us, not Estonia. Second, look at Estonia, Narva. How long does it take to occupy Narva? Narva is home to 89% Russians and only 5% Estonians, and there are a lot of FSB agents there. It is absolutely possible, without having a huge advantage in manpower, to occupy and test how NATO will react to this. They are creating a military district there now, moving forces very quickly, so it's clear that they are earger to strike there. It's just that Ukraine is a distraction right now. But if you put Ukraine on the defensive, if you don't provide weapons, then Putin will release some of his forces and conduct a provocation there to raise the stakes and then bargain at Ukraine's expense. I think such a scenario is possible," Valeriy Chaly summarized.

• Earlier, media reported that Germany would deploy the largest military brigade in Lithuania to deter Russia. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Lithuanian counterpart Arvydas Anušauskas signed a roadmap for the deployment of a Bundeswehr brigade of about 5,000 troops in Lithuania starting in 2025.
• Also, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that in 2025 the country will send troops to Latvia: it is necessary to deter Russia from attacking.
• In addition, Estonia is considering the possibility of mining the border with Russia, in particular, installing anti-personnel and anti-tank mines