Russia escalates rhetoric, warning of a potential military conflict with NATO while vowing to intensify efforts in its ongoing war against Ukraine, Politico reported.
Russia has intensified its warnings about a potential war with NATO, claiming that Western support for Ukraine has pushed the situation to a critical "red line." The stark comments came during a joint meeting on Monday between Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and President Vladimir Putin.
"The Ministry of Defense of Russia must be ready for any development of events, including a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade," Belousov stated Monday.
His remarks underscore Russia's growing concerns about NATO's military activities near its borders, alongside continued Western support for Ukraine.
Belousov highlighted recent NATO decisions and military doctrines from the U.S. and allied nations as evidence of a looming threat. He asserted that Russia must prepare for this scenario while remaining focused on completing its objectives in Ukraine.
Russia's military strategy in Ukraine remains aggressive. Belousov claimed that Russian forces have gained significant momentum, aiming to fully capture the contested regions of Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Donetsk by next year. He also stated that Ukraine's troops are "exhausted" while Russia continues to expand its forces, reportedly recruiting more than 427,000 troops this year, an average of 1,200 per day.
At the same meeting, Putin doubled down on his criticism of NATO, accusing the alliance of escalating tensions by increasing troop deployments near Russia.
"The number of American servicemen in Europe has already exceeded 100,000," Putin said, claiming the U.S. has been "scaring people with a mythical Russian threat" while providing direct support to Ukraine.
Putin's remarks included accusations that Western "instructors" are aiding Ukraine in the war, though he did not provide evidence of these claims. He warned that Russia is nearing the point where it would be forced to respond decisively.
"These actions bring us closer to the red line, through which we can no longer retreat," Putin said, placing responsibility for escalating tensions on NATO.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for a swift resolution to the war. Speaking on Monday, Trump said, "We're trying to get the war stopped, that horrible, horrible war that's going on in Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine. We're going to get a little progress, it's a tough one, it's a nasty one, it's nasty." He suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should "be prepared to make a deal."
Despite international calls for peace, Russia shows no sign of scaling back its campaign in Ukraine, signaling instead an intent to broaden its military preparations for a confrontation with NATO.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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