German politician Roderich Kiesewetter warned of a serious escalation along NATO’s borders as Russia forms a new army of roughly 360,000 troops. He also said the most critical years for Putin’s war could be 2026 and 2027.
According to Bild, Kiesewetter, a CDU member of the Bundestag and a security expert, said on NTV that important internal changes have taken place in Russia over the past two years without being communicated to the public.
He said two army corps are now stationed in Belarus, forming a powerful new force capable of striking even NATO countries.
“We’re now seeing that Russia has stationed two army corps in Belarus—that is, around 360,000 combat-ready soldiers—a completely new giant army, ready and able to strike even at NATO,” he added.
Kiesewetter also noted that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had previously sought to reassure the public but now recognizes the worsening situation. He added that thanks to a war economy, Putin is preparing hundreds of thousands of troops who have not yet been deployed to the war in Ukraine.
The lawmaker said Russia’s actions inside Ukraine—destroying infrastructure and conducting sabotage - could trigger a mass exodus of civilians. He cautioned against expecting meetings in Berlin to change the Kremlin’s intentions.
“I can only warn that it’s naive to believe that if we meet here in Berlin now, Putin will understand. I fear the next two years will be the most critical,” he said.
Earlier, as CNN reported, Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen told a North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels that Russia will remain a threat to Europe even after the war in Ukraine ends.
“Russia is indeed ramping up its military efforts for a second phase of potential aggression... After the war in Ukraine, NATO faces real threats,” Häkkänen said.
He added that the modernization of Russia’s armed forces and increased troop presence near Europe’s borders are clear signals of potential danger.
According to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, NATO is the Kremlin’s next target.
