Putin Seeks EU and NATO Collapse; Russia Considers Nuclear Escalation in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin is believed by Western countries to be seeking the collapse of the European Union and NATO, with Russia considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to warn against attacking NATO, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns of critical months ahead. Divergent reports suggest Putin may either pursue direct confrontation or continue diversions in Europe.
Where Sources Diverge
Meduza reports that Putin is seeking the collapse of NATO and the EU, while Ukrainian Independent Information Agency reports that Putin is not interested in direct military confrontation with NATO but wants to continue diversions in Europe.
Putin is seeking the collapse of NATO and the EU.
Putin is not interested in direct military confrontation with NATO but wants to continue diversions in Europe.
Meduza reports that Zelenskyy's office believes Moscow may be preparing a new offensive on Kyiv and Chernihiv, while Ukrainian Independent Information Agency reports that the 'Crimea invasion scenario' is the most discussed on the West.
Zelenskyy's office believes Moscow may be preparing a new offensive on Kyiv and Chernihiv.
The 'Crimea invasion scenario' is the most discussed on the West.
Timelines
Sources
On the West, concerns are increasingly voiced that Vladimir Putin does not want peace talks and plans another escalation, not only in Ukraine but also against NATO countries. Sources from The New York Times claim that the Russian president has set as a goal for 2026 the "collapse of NATO and the EU from within." Bloomberg sources close to the Kremlin say that Putin is considering the possibility of intensifying attacks with ballistic missiles or even (in the worst case) using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. In Zelenskyy's office, they believe that Moscow may be preparing a new offensive on Kyiv and Chernihiv. This week, Moscow was unexpectedly visited by CIA Director John Ratcliffe for the first time since the start of the war — according to one version, his mission was to warn the Kremlin against attacking NATO countries. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he sees signs of preparation for escalation, and the next seven to eight months may become critical for the security of both Ukraine and the entire European region. German Bild and British The Telegraph described largely similar potential scenarios of open or disguised aggression by the Kremlin towards NATO and the European Union.
How a potential escalation could actually look, analyzed by Roland Oliphant, foreign policy analyst at The Telegraph
Putin is not interested in direct military confrontation with NATO, but wants to continue diversions in Europe.
The 'Crimea invasion scenario' is the most discussed on the West.