Next country on Vladimir Putin's hit list after Ukraine named by former CIA chief
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A former CIA chief has issued a stark warning that Vladimir Putin could expand his aggressive campaign into Europe if he succeeds in Ukraine, with one particular nation in his crosshairs.
David Petraeus, who led the agency from 2011 to 2012, cautioned that the Russian leader might target the Baltic states next, particularly after intensifying attacks in Ukraine. According to Petraeus, Putin is poised for a significant summer offensive, having ramped up drone and missile strikes to weaken Ukrainian resolve.
Now, Petraeus believes, Putin's ambition is to conquer all of Ukraine before advancing on a country he often mentions.
During a session at the Policy Exchange think-tank in London, Mr Petraeus outlined Russia's strategy to oust Zelensky and install a pro-Russian regime.
"Russia seeks to remove Zelensky and replace him with a pro-Russian puppet," he declared, suggesting that the Kremlin's ultimate goal is to "install a puppet leader and to control all of Ukraine". Petraeus then warned that following this, Putin's gaze would turn towards "one of the Baltic states", adding, "Once that's done, you are going to see them focus on one of the Baltic states," reports the Mirror.
He specifically highlighted Lithuania as a potential target, noting: "Lithuania has featured prominently in his speeches and we should have listened a lot more."
Long before the conflict in Ukraine erupted in 2022, Putin had repeatedly claimed that Ukraine was an integral part of Russia, asserting that Ukrainians and Russians were "one people". In 2020, he declared: "Kyiv is the mother of Russian cities. Ancient Rus' is our common source and we cannot live without each other."
Similar assertions have been made about Lithuania by Kremlin-supported entities. The prominent Russian foreign-policy institute MGIMO released a 400-page tome on Lithuanian history, alleging it was founded solely as a vehicle for Polish terrorism.
The publication, which includes a foreword penned by Putin's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, further contends that Lithuania's secession from the disintegrating USSR in 1991 was illegitimate and undemocratic. Lithuanian authorities are acutely conscious of Russia's overt antagonism towards their nation, having recently disclosed an evacuation strategy for their capital, Vilnius, in case of an invasion.
The national government has also channelled funds into fortifying its border defences, particularly at a vital border juncture known as the Suwałki Gap.
This location has long been regarded as one of the most probable launch points for a Russian assault on Lithuania, with Lithuanian Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas informing POLITICO that the enhancements are "critical to us from a security and defence perspective". Mr Godliauskas further remarked: "They've always been part of our civil-military planning as key ground routes for allied support during a crisis."
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