Germany warns Putin is ‘creating the conditions’ to attack NATO

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Vladimir Putin is ‘creating the conditions’ to attack NATO and has already replaced the thousands of tanks and missiles destroyed in his illegal war in Ukraine, a leading German military official has warned. Major General Christian Freuding said that Russia’s armed forces are ‘not just able to compensate for their enormous personnel and material losses… they are successfully rearming’. Freuding told Die Welt that while Putin has suffered huge casualties in the war, losing his ‘well-trained troops’, his ‘imperialist impulse’ remains unbroken and the military is ‘successfully rearming’.

While it was not clear whether Russia plans to attack NATO, Freuding said Putin was 'clearly creating the conditions for it', claiming supplies in Russia's depots are 'growing'. Russia has significantly expanded its military in the last 12 months, boosting the size of its army to 1.5 million active personnel in September to become the second largest in the world, according to Russian media. While NATO claims it 'does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia', Putin and his allies have increasingly sent warnings of nuclear Armageddon to the West in a bid to undermine support for Ukraine.

While it was not clear whether Russia plans to attack NATO, Freuding said Putin was ‘clearly creating the conditions for it’, claiming supplies in Russia’s depots are ‘growing’. Russia has significantly expanded its military in the last 12 months, boosting the size of its army to 1.5 million active personnel in September to become the second largest in the world, according to Russian media. While NATO claims it ‘does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia’, Putin and his allies have increasingly sent warnings of nuclear Armageddon to the West in a bid to undermine support for Ukraine.

Germany, among Ukraine's top backers in the West, has been locked in intense discussions over whether to back a £2.5bn aid package - a package Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said would be contingent upon loosening Germany's own spending restraints. The aid package, mostly to fund air defence, has received support from leaders across the political spectrum seeking to bolster Ukraine before the German snap election on February 23. If it goes through, it would be the largest single package to date from any ally, and would supplement four billion euros in aid already allocated to Ukraine for 2025 in a provision budget.

Germany, among Ukraine’s top backers in the West, has been locked in intense discussions over whether to back a £2.5bn aid package – a package Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said would be contingent upon loosening Germany’s own spending restraints. The aid package, mostly to fund air defence, has received support from leaders across the political spectrum seeking to bolster Ukraine before the German snap election on February 23. If it goes through, it would be the largest single package to date from any ally, and would supplement four billion euros in aid already allocated to Ukraine for 2025 in a provision budget.

It comes at a delicate time, with Vladimir Putin and his MPs threatening parties offering to support Kyiv's defence of its territory. Aleksey Zhuravlyov, deputy head of Russia's parliamentary defence committee, urged last week that Russia should be ready for World War Three within three years. The pro-Putin MP urged that while Russia has enough volunteers to fight, it must start to prepare the male population for a major confrontation with the West by 2028-29. 'Europe explains to us that in 2028¿2029 [it and its allies] will be ready to fight Russia,' he assessed. 'Here it is necessary to prepare the male population and, naturally, defend the Motherland. We must talk about this and not be ashamed of it.'

It comes at a delicate time, with Vladimir Putin and his MPs threatening parties offering to support Kyiv’s defence of its territory. Aleksey Zhuravlyov, deputy head of Russia’s parliamentary defence committee, urged last week that Russia should be ready for World War Three within three years. The pro-Putin MP urged that while Russia has enough volunteers to fight, it must start to prepare the male population for a major confrontation with the West by 2028-29. ‘Europe explains to us that in 2028–2029 [it and its allies] will be ready to fight Russia,’ he assessed. ‘Here it is necessary to prepare the male population and, naturally, defend the Motherland. We must talk about this and not be ashamed of it.’

Responding to the comments, Yuri Shvytkin, deputy chair of the State Duma Defence Committee, firmly agreed with the assessment, telling Ridus that 'every Russian must understand that in the event of external aggression, he must take up arms and defend the Motherland.' He shied away from calling for immediate mobilisation, suggesting the threat from NATO was not yet a pressing issue. Putin himself said in late December that a global conflict could erupt if the West continues 'escalating the situation'. 'You know, there is no need to scare anyone,' he told a state TV reporter, caveating, 'there are many dangers - they are increasing. And we see what our enemy is doing today, escalating the situation. If they want to, let them live badly, let them escalate further. 'We will always respond to any challenge, always,' he said.

Responding to the comments, Yuri Shvytkin, deputy chair of the State Duma Defence Committee, firmly agreed with the assessment, telling Ridus that ‘every Russian must understand that in the event of external aggression, he must take up arms and defend the Motherland.’ He shied away from calling for immediate mobilisation, suggesting the threat from NATO was not yet a pressing issue. Putin himself said in late December that a global conflict could erupt if the West continues ‘escalating the situation’. ‘You know, there is no need to scare anyone,’ he told a state TV reporter, caveating, ‘there are many dangers – they are increasing. And we see what our enemy is doing today, escalating the situation. If they want to, let them live badly, let them escalate further. ‘We will always respond to any challenge, always,’ he said.

Putin glossed over his role in escalating conflict in Europe with the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, instead boasting of his personal role in the 'historic' development of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The Russian dictator today welcomed Donald Trump's decision to restore direct contacts with Russia and prevent World War Three, after insisted he would fight for Russia's interests on the world stage. Ukraine meanwhile attacked a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region on Monday, killing two people and wounding more than a dozen others, Russian state media reported.

Putin glossed over his role in escalating conflict in Europe with the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, instead boasting of his personal role in the ‘historic’ development of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The Russian dictator today welcomed Donald Trump’s decision to restore direct contacts with Russia and prevent World War Three, after insisted he would fight for Russia’s interests on the world stage. Ukraine meanwhile attacked a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region on Monday, killing two people and wounding more than a dozen others, Russian state media reported.

The region's Moscow-installed governor said Ukrainian forces had fired 'cluster munitions' near a school in the town of Bekhtery when students and teachers were on their way to lessons and that children were among the wounded. Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up hostilities in recent months, trying to secure the upper hand in the almost three-year conflict ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later on Monday. The attack came as Russian forces advanced further in east Ukraine.

The region’s Moscow-installed governor said Ukrainian forces had fired ‘cluster munitions’ near a school in the town of Bekhtery when students and teachers were on their way to lessons and that children were among the wounded. Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up hostilities in recent months, trying to secure the upper hand in the almost three-year conflict ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration later on Monday. The attack came as Russian forces advanced further in east Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said they had captured two more villages, including one just a few kilometres (miles) from the Ukrainian-held supply hub of Pokrovsk. It said its army units 'liberated' Shevchenko - around three kilometres (two miles) from Pokrovsk, as well as Novoyegorivka in the eastern Lugansk region. Russia accelerated its advances in Ukraine last year, capturing seven times more territory in 2024 than in 2023, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War. Moscow is also pressing into the hilltop city of Chasiv Yar, a frontline stronghold whose capture would allow it to drive deeper into the Donetsk region.

The Russian defence ministry said they had captured two more villages, including one just a few kilometres (miles) from the Ukrainian-held supply hub of Pokrovsk. It said its army units ‘liberated’ Shevchenko – around three kilometres (two miles) from Pokrovsk, as well as Novoyegorivka in the eastern Lugansk region. Russia accelerated its advances in Ukraine last year, capturing seven times more territory in 2024 than in 2023, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War. Moscow is also pressing into the hilltop city of Chasiv Yar, a frontline stronghold whose capture would allow it to drive deeper into the Donetsk region.

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