Concerns about the security of European countries have increased recently. Amidst tensions with Russia, forecasts about possible attacks on NATO member states have come to the forefront, and expert opinions on this matter are being closely monitored.
Redaksiya reports, citing Unian, that Valeriy Chaly, Ukraine's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the US (2015-2019), expressed his views on the possibility of possible attacks by Russia against NATO member states in an interview with the "Orestokratiya" channel. According to Chaly, the probability of Russia attacking a European country in 2026 is quite high. He noted that this attack could be against Finland, Sweden, the Baltic states, Poland, or Romania.
In Chaly's opinion, the purpose of an attack by Russia is not to seize territory, but to demonstrate Europe's weakness. He predicts the possibility of ground operations by Russia against a NATO country next year. These operations could be carried out by drones, robotic systems, or sabotage groups. According to Chaly, this will be understood as a violation of a NATO country's territorial integrity, not as an accidental fall of a missile or drone.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also stated that NATO should reconsider its forecasts regarding Russia. In an interview with the newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," he noted that Russia could quickly rebuild its forces and attack eastern NATO member countries by 2029. According to Chaly, the artificial extension of the war in Europe is the result of emotional decisions by the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin personally. He emphasized that it will not be possible to get rid of the war within 15 years. According to Chaly, Putin's goal is not to expand the war, but to show Europe's weakness. He also noted that the Russia-Ukraine war has transitioned into a European war, marking the beginning of a period of continuous war that will occur in various places with interruptions. According to Chaly, the future development of events will be determined by the actions of European countries. If other European countries join the war on Ukraine's side, Putin will realize that he is not afraid of anyone. In this situation, it is possible for the war to turn into a European war, and as a result, for peace to be established quickly.