Where and How Putin Could Expand His War in Europe Beyond Ukraine

Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

The CIA director’s recent unannounced visit to Moscow has raised speculation about Russian plans to escalate attacks. The post Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine appeared first on Atlantic Council.

Western officials fear Putin is preparing to escalate beyond Ukraine. Bild and The Telegraph outline possible Russian moves against NATO.

Fears are increasingly being voiced in the West that Vladimir Putin does not want peace talks and is planning another escalation, not only in Ukraine but against NATO countries as well. Sources for The New York Times say that the Russian president has set a goal for 2026 of “the collapse of NATO and the E.U. from within.” Bloomberg sources close to the Kremlin say that Putin is considering intensifying ballistic missile strikes or even, as a last resort, using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Zelensky’s office believes Moscow may be preparing a new offensive on Kyiv and Chernihiv. This week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe unexpectedly visited Moscow for the first time since the war in Ukraine began. According to one theory, his mission was to warn the Kremlin against attacking NATO countries. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he sees signs that an escalation is being prepared, and that the next seven to eight months could be critical for the security of both Ukraine and the wider European region. Germany’s Bild and Britain’s The Telegraph described largely similar potential scenarios of overt or covert Kremlin aggression against NATO and the European Union.