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Putin May Attack NATO Before War in Ukraine Ends, Zelenskyy Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia could open a new front in Europe before the war in Ukraine concludes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with The Guardian published on November 9.
According to Zelenskyy, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has reached a “stalemate” in Ukraine and may attempt to compensate for battlefield failures by expanding aggression beyond Ukrainian territory.
“Putin is in a deadlock situation in terms of real success. For him, this is more of a stalemate. Therefore, these failures may encourage him to seek other territories,” he told The Guardian.
The Ukrainian President warned that European skepticism about the limits of Russia’s ambitions is misplaced. “We must forget the general European skepticism about the idea that Putin first wants to occupy Ukraine and then may go somewhere else. He can do both at the same time,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also linked a series of recent incidents—including Russian drones and fighter jets crossing into the airspace of Poland, Romania, and Estonia—to Moscow’s frustration over its lack of progress in Ukraine. He described these actions as elements of a “hybrid war against Europe,” aimed at testing NATO’s response and red lines.
His warning echoes concerns voiced by Western military officials. General Alexander Sollfrank, head of Germany’s Joint Support and Enabling Command, said Russia could strike NATO countries “at any time,” though he noted that its military resources remain limited due to its ongoing campaign in Ukraine. He added that Russia uses drone incursions and other provocations to gauge the alliance’s reaction.
Earlier, Russia conducted large-scale military drills in the Baltic Sea involving over 20 warships, 25 aircraft, and around 3,000 personnel, according to Interfax on May 27. The exercises included anti-submarine warfare and counter-drone operations, with participation from the Northern Fleet and Aerospace Forces.
