Russia could multiply its forces on NATO’s border by three time(Image: Ukrainian State Emergency Servic)
Russia could multiply its forces on NATO’s border by three times amid fears it could attack alliance countries within years, a European intelligence official has warned.
Although it could not launch an attack this year or next, it plans to boost its troop numbers massively along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on the outcome of war in Ukraine.
Kaupo Rosin, the head of Estonia’s foreign intelligence service, declared Russian President Vladimir Putin is being fed false positive information about his troops’ frontline successes. He also believes he can “outsmart” the United States during talks on how to end the war and will then create new military units and multiply forces neighbouring NATO borders.
Misery of war: Kramatorsk after Russian attack(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
There are “not enough resources available” for Moscow to launch an attack on Nato, but the Kremlin fears Europe rearming and being able to attack Russia, the intelligence chief said. Russia is playing for time in the talks with Washington and “there is absolutely no discussion about how to really co-operate with the US in a meaningful way,” Mr Rosin said.
Mr Rosin said the information on how the Kremlin views the talks with the US is based on intelligence that Nato member Estonia gathered from “Russian internal discussions.” And he said Russian officials believe Washington is Moscow’s “main enemy”.
Massive drone strike on a Chernihiv house, Ukraine(Image: Ukrainian State Emergency Servic)
US-brokered talks between envoys from Russia and Ukraine have been described by both sides as positive with no real signs of a breakthrough. Mr Rosin added that Putin, “in his head, still thinks that he can actually militarily win at some point.”
The White House responded by saying Trump’s negotiators had made “tremendous progress” in peace talks. They pointed to a recent prisoner release of 300 troops, signed in Abu Dhabi.
Remains of petrol station: Kramatorsk, Ukraine(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that Washington has given Kyiv and Moscow a June deadline to reach a settlement. Fiona Hill, a British-American Russia expert and ex-adviser to Trump said the White House is spinning a story that he US president is a peacemaker.
She said both leaders “need their version of events to play out” and are hanging onto their version of the truth – Mr Putin as the victor in Ukraine and Mr Trump as the dealmaker. On Tuesday morning, Russian planes dropped seven powerful glide bombs on Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, killing an 11-year-old girl and her mother.
More troop demands by Russian President Putin(Image: AP)
Overnight Russian drone attacks wounded at least five people, including a toddler and two other children. Ms Hill, who served as a national intelligence officer under previous US administrations, said it is unclear what intelligence information Mr Trump gets on Russia – or if he reads it.
He relies heavily on his lead negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. She suggested officials may be “selectively” looking for what they want to hear.
More misery piled on Ukraine’s civilians: Zaporizhzhia(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Mr Putin is fixated on controlling all of Ukraine and the idea “is so deep in his head” that it takes priority over anything else, including the economy, Mr Rosin said. He said Mr Putin’s position may change only if the situation in Russia, or on the front line, becomes “catastrophic,” threatening his power.
One reason Mr Putin thinks he can win in Ukraine is because he is “definitely” getting some incorrect information from his officials. The reports that arrive at Mr Putin’s desk may be “much more optimistic” than the situation on the ground because Mr Putin only wants to see success, Mr Rosin said.