German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has issued a warning that intelligence assessments suggest Russia may launch an attack on NATO by 2029, emphasizing Moscow’s military buildup and its shift toward war. This has raised significant alarms among senior German officials, marking the third instance in the month where such warnings have been raised. Wadephul has stated that Russia’s intentions are clear, with the country preparing for the option of a future attack against a NATO member. The intelligence services are urgently warning about the potential for such an attack, with the statement issued by the official German foreign ministry X account highlighting the necessity of deterring further Russian aggression in collaboration with partners and allies.
Retired General Philip Breedlove, who previously served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has shared his agreement with the severity of the assessments made by the German government. He has pointed out that many observers have overlooked Russia’s early signals prior to the full-scale invasion. Breedlove mentioned that in the beginning stages of the invasion, Russia provided two documents that were essentially demands or threats, which were not acknowledged by the West. He highlighted that failure to meet these demands led to the current invasion of Ukraine and its continuation in various ways. Furthermore, Breedlove has warned that Putin’s ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine, aiming to reshape the security architecture of Eastern Europe to a Cold War status where he controls all the buffer countries and creates a buffer between himself and NATO.
Military commanders, including Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank, head of Germany’s joint operations command, have also issued similar warnings, stating that Russia could potentially launch an attack on NATO territory at any time. He indicated that a larger-scale assault could become possible by 2029 if rearmament efforts continue. These assessments are in line with other official warnings from Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who has mentioned that a war between Russia and NATO could commence as early as 2028. Such warnings have been reported by various media outlets, including Meduza, and signal growing concern about the potential military actions by Russia in the coming years.
The warnings come as the United States continues to push for a proposed Russia-Ukraine peace deal, with President Donald Trump expressing confidence in the progress of the agreement. Despite ongoing military tensions and a recent overnight Russian strike on Kyiv that has killed at least seven people and caused significant damage to the power infrastructure, negotiations have continued. Trump has stated that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the agreement is complete or in its final stage, indicating his commitment to the peace process. However, experts remain cautious, highlighting that Putin may still be waiting for the right moment to take action, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for continued vigilance and diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.