Dictator Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied with the war against Ukraine alone – he may try to seize other countries, including NATO members. According to the American diplomat and former US ambassador to Turkey W. Robert Pearson, he said this in an interview with The Hill, which quotes 24 Hours.
He said Putin’s desire was to return the borders of the Russian Empire. But for this he needs to achieve full control over a number of European countries.
Robert Pearson believes that Putin’s list of potential victims includes not only Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but also Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.
“If Putin survives, he will do everything possible to increase Russia’s military presence in the West. He will seize Minsk, making it subordinate to Moscow, and increase the presence of Russian troops in Syria and Kazakhstan. Russia is also stepping up its actions in Kaliningrad and along the Baltic borders.” to intimidate NATO forces, Poland and Germany, “the diplomat said.
Pearson noted that Putin is interested in creating a frozen conflict in Ukraine.
According to the American diplomat, NATO’s main task is to make an important decision on a new security system for post-war Europe. Sanctions against Russia will not lead to victory for the United States or the alliance unless they force Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine. To do this, in his opinion, Europe and the United States must understand that it is not enough to “play defense.”
The Washington newspaper also quoted a senior German diplomat, Thomas Badger, as saying in the New York Times on March 27: “We did not understand that Putin created historical mythology and thought in terms of a millennial empire. Such a person cannot be detained by sanctions.”