From POLITICO · · 1m
Lithuania's president: Putin will keep testing NATO
Gitanas Nausėda says Russia is not ready for full-scale war now but will continue hybrid attacks to probe the alliance's resolve.
In brief
Gitanas Nausėda says Russia is not ready for full-scale war now but will continue hybrid attacks to probe the alliance's resolve. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expects Vladimir Putin to continue probing NATO with hybrid attacks rather than conventional warfare, while Russia remains focused on Ukraine…
Putin testing NATO without full war
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says Russia is not ready for large-scale operations now because its resources are tied up on the Ukrainian battlefield and not succeeding there.
“Russia's resources are tied up on the Ukrainian battlefield, and Russia is not succeeding there.”
Hybrid war will continue across NATO
Nausėda expects Russia to keep testing NATO with hybrid attacks including drone incursions, cyberattacks and arson. The campaign will continue not only on NATO's eastern flank but also in Germany, Denmark and other countries.
“Putin is testing us and moving ever closer to Article 5, NATO's collective defense commitment.”
No serious talks until 2027, Nausėda says
The Lithuanian president sees no serious willingness in Moscow to negotiate ending its war against Ukraine before next spring.Russia will use winter to pressure Ukraine through air strikes.Nausėda expects serious talks only in 2027.
“The Russians will only pretend to negotiate. I don't trust them.”
The headline
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expects Vladimir Putin to continue probing NATO with hybrid attacks rather than conventional warfare, while Russia remains focused on Ukraine.
