A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has warned of the threat Moscow poses to other nations in Europe, saying the Russians could conquer the Baltic states in seven days if the allies do not face Russia now, writes Newsweek.
The comment was made by Major General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy of the Information Service of the Ukrainian army, in an interview for The Economist, published on Thursday.
He sounded the alarm about the potential danger – which politicians and military experts have talked about – that Russian President Vladimir Putin could trigger conflicts in the Baltic states. Earlier this year, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote that the Russian leader is trying to weaken NATO with rhetoric about the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
All three Baltic countries are members of NATO and the European Union. Article 5 of the NATO treaty provides that “an armed attack against one or more” of its member nations “shall be considered an attack against everyone†.
According to Skibitsky, countries bordering Ukraine need to increase their defense production to help Kiev more, because Putin might try to invade other countries. In the interview, Skibitsky warned: “The Russians can conquer the Baltic countries in seven days.” NATO’s reaction time is ten days.
He also said that Ukraine must at some point negotiate with Russia to end the war started by Putin in February 2022. His suggestion appears to be in contrast to the public position of the Ukrainian president. Volodymyr Zelensky.
Skibitsky also spoke about the situation in Chasiv Yar, a strategic bastion for Ukraine in the Donetsk region. Earlier this week, ISW reported that Putin’s army has stepped up its offensive to take the city. engages in offensive attacks around Chasiv Yar†, wrote ISW marÈ›i.
According to Skibitsky, the Russians could gain control of the city of Chasiv Yar “today or tomorrow, but it all depends on our reserves and supplies.”
In his opinion, Russia will direct its attention to the northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy. Skibitsky added that Moscow’s forces are heading for a stronger offensive towards the end of this month or “early June”, depending on Ukraine’s defense in Donbas.
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