Vladimir Putin could attack Europe far earlier than previously thought, Germany’s defence minister has warned.
Experts have recently warned that a NATO-Russia war could break out in the next 20 years and that a potential global conflict looms on the horizon.
But Boris Pistorius, Germany’s serving minister of defence, has warned this conflict could come much sooner than expected.
The German official has said the Russian despot could orchestrate an attack on NATO within the decade.
Speaking to local media, he cited government experts when making the conclusion that conflict with Russia could conceivably come in a “period of five to eight years”.
Mr Pistorius told Der Tagesspiegel on January 19 that his government hears warnings from the Kremlin “almost every day”.
He concluded that, while an attack in the near future is unlikely “for now”, it is clear that Europe faces a threat not seen for decades.
He said: “One thing is certain – we are dealing with a military threat situation in Europe that has not existed for 30 years.
“We see it through Russia’s attack on Ukraine. We hear threats from the Kremlin almost every day – most recently against our friends in the Baltics.”
Mr Pistorius warned it is vital to support Ukraine to ensure Russia doesn’t gain a European foothold from which it could propel itself further west.
He said: “If Putin wins this war and occupies Ukraine, the danger for the alliance’s territory will, of course, also increase.”
Defence experts had previously estimated that Russia was much further off making inroads further into Western Europe and provoking World War Three.
Admiral Rob Bauer, a top NATO military official, warned on January 18 that European governments should prepare for war with Russia in the next 20 years.
Speaking after a meeting of NATO military chiefs in Brussels, Admiral Bauer said officials must realise “it’s not a given that we are in peace”.
He added preparation is necessary as “not everything is plannable and not everything is going to be hunky dory in the next 20 years”.
