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Scottish Sun
32 minutes ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
We know Russia is plotting to invade Nato – Ukraine is just the beginning for Putin, says Germany's ‘M' spy boss
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin has his evil eyes set on invading Nato with his invasion of Ukraine only just the beginning, Germany's spy boss has warned. Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, says his team have intel that Russia is plotting to test the resolve of the alliance in the coming years. 7 Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, says his team have intel that Russia is plotting to test the resolve of the alliance Credit: Alamy 7 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv overnight left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP 7 Ukraine is often left battling to survive Putin's continued drone attacks Credit: Getty 7 A similar concerning message was made by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. He warned people in Britain 'better learn to speak Russian' if Sir Keir Starmer doesn't increase defence spending immediately. Rutte also said in a speech in London that Russia could be in a position to attack Nato by 2030. Europe is continuing to battle with Russia's increased aggression against Ukraine. Many Nato nations have imposed sanctions on the Kremlin to try and draw them towards the negotiating table to help end the war. This pressure has been mainly applied by Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump. But Putin is yet to stop his nightly attacks. Russia directly attacked Kyiv with 315 drones and missiles and demolished large parts of the southern port of Odesa overnight. It is now believed that Vlad fires over 500 drone strikes every night across Ukraine. And Bruno Kahl fears this is only the start of Putin's sick plans to take over Europe. Satellite pics show Putin on the march as Russia masses troops 35 miles from Nato border with 2k soldiers & helicopters Kahl told Table Media this week: "We are quite certain, and we have intelligence showing it, that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward. "That doesn't mean we expect tank armies to roll westwards but we see that Nato's collective defence promise is to be tested." Kahl believes twisted Russian officials want to see how the US would react to direct confrontations with fellow Nato members. These would all fall short of full military engagement but would give the Kremlin an insight into where Donald Trump stands. As part of the US's pact within Nato they have a mutual obligation alongside all other members to defend each other when under attack. This ruling comes under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Kahl says one way this could be done is through Putin's "little green men" being shipped off to Estonia. During Russia's barbaric 2014 annexation of Crimea they took control of dozens of buildings and offices through the use of soldiers in unmarked uniforms and civilian clothes. Moscow initially denied the men's identities which meant they became known as "little green men". What is Nato? THE North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a political and military alliance of countries from North America and Europe. It was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union with Cold War tensions rising. Among articles in its found treaty is the principle of collective defence - the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all of them. Nato takes decisions by consensus but the political and military strength of the United States means that it is by far the most powerful country in the alliance. Its nuclear arsenal is seen as the ultimate security guarantee. Nato has 31 members - most of them European nations, plus the United States and Canada. The newest member is Finland, which joined last April in reaction to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sweden applied to join along with Finland but is waiting for Hungary to ratify its application as the final major step before membership. Kahl's beliefs have been echoed by the International Institute for Strategic Studies who say Putin may deploy his army onto a 'war footing' and try to test Nato by evoking Article 5. This could see Putin commit to an attack on Nato states in the Baltics. Poland and the neighbouring states have already been rumoured to be next on the despot's hit list should he ever get through a brave Kyiv. And worrying satellite images last month revealed how he is assembling Russian hardware, troops and building bases as little as 35 miles from the border with Finland. Photos show increased military activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya. Any attack could take place within two years of a ceasefire, IISS warns. Many of these fears stem from if the US and President Trump decide to withdraw support from Nato - leaving Europe to defend itself. 7 Vladimir Putin has his evil eyes set on invading Nato with his invasion of Ukraine only just the beginning, Germany's spy boss has warned Credit: EPA 7 Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned Russia may attack again by 2030 Credit: Reuters 7
The Irish Sun
32 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
We know Russia is plotting to invade Nato – Ukraine is just the beginning for Putin, says head of Germany's MI6
VLADIMIR Putin has his evil eyes set on invading Nato with his invasion of Ukraine only just the beginning, Germany's spy boss has warned. Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, says his team have intel that Russia is plotting to test the resolve of the alliance in the coming years. 7 Bruno Kahl, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, says his team have intel that Russia is plotting to test the resolve of the alliance Credit: Alamy 7 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv overnight left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP 7 Ukraine is often left battling to survive Putin's continued drone attacks Credit: Getty 7 A similar concerning message was made by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. He warned people in Britain 'better learn to speak Russian' if Sir Keir Starmer doesn't increase defence spending immediately. Rutte also said in a speech in London that Russia could be in a position to attack Nato by 2030. Europe is continuing to battle with Russia's increased aggression against Ukraine. read more in Ukraine war Many Nato nations have imposed sanctions on the Kremlin to try and draw them towards the negotiating table to help end the war. This pressure has been mainly applied by Starmer, France 's Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump. But Putin is yet to stop his nightly attacks. Russia Most read in The US Sun It is now believed that Vlad fires And Bruno Kahl fears this is only the start of Putin's sick plans to take over Europe. Satellite pics show Putin on the march as Russia masses troops 35 miles from Nato border with 2k soldiers & helicopters Kahl told Table Media this week: "We are quite certain, and we have intelligence showing it, that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward. "That doesn't mean we expect tank armies to roll westwards but we see that Nato's collective defence promise is to be tested." Kahl believes twisted Russian officials want to see how the US would react to direct confrontations with fellow Nato members. These would all fall short of full military engagement but would give the Kremlin an insight into where Donald Trump stands. As part of the US's pact within Nato they have a mutual obligation alongside all other members to defend each other when under attack. This ruling comes under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Kahl says one way this could be done is through Putin's "little green men" being shipped off to Estonia. During Russia's barbaric 2014 annexation of Crimea they took control of dozens of buildings and offices through the use of soldiers in unmarked uniforms and civilian clothes. Moscow initially denied the men's identities which meant they became known as "little green men". What is Nato? THE North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a political and military alliance of countries from North America and Europe. It was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union with Cold War tensions rising. Among articles in its found treaty is the principle of collective defence - the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all of them. Nato takes decisions by consensus but the political and military strength of the United States means that it is by far the most powerful country in the alliance. Its nuclear arsenal is seen as the ultimate security guarantee. Nato has 31 members - most of them European nations, plus the United States and Canada. The newest member is Finland, which joined last April in reaction to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sweden applied to join along with Finland but is waiting for Hungary to ratify its application as the final major step before membership. Kahl's beliefs have been echoed by the International Institute for Strategic Studies who say Putin may This could see Putin commit to an attack on Nato states in the Baltics. Poland and the neighbouring states have already been rumoured to be And Photos show increased military activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya. Any attack could take place within two years of a ceasefire, IISS warns. Many of these fears stem from if the US and President Trump decide to withdraw support from Nato - leaving Europe to defend itself. 7 Vladimir Putin has his evil eyes set on invading Nato with his invasion of Ukraine only just the beginning, Germany's spy boss has warned Credit: EPA 7 Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned Russia may attack again by 2030 Credit: Reuters 7
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia doubts NATO's Article 5, could use 'little green men' to test it, German intelligence chief warns
Russia wants to test NATO's resolve by hostile steps beyond Ukraine, as some Russian officials believe the alliance's collective defense principle no longer works, German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl told the Table Media news outlet in an interview published on June 9. "There are people in Moscow who no longer believe that NATO's Article 5 works. And they would like to test it," Kahl said in the podcast interview. The comments come as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Russia could be ready to launch an attack against the alliance within five years. Such stark warnings have become increasingly common since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The chief of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) noted that Moscow sees its war in Ukraine as "only a step on its path westward." Citing intelligence sources, he said Russia may seek to start a lower-intensity confrontation that will test the U.S.'s willingness to fulfill its obligations under Article 5. "They don't need to send tanks for that," Kahl noted. "They just have to send 'little green men' to Estonia to defend the allegedly oppressed Russian minority." Article 5 refers to a key principle of the North Atlantic Treaty, which obliges all members to treat an attack on one member as an attack on all and provide assistance. The article has been invoked only once, following the September 11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. in 2001. The term "little green men" was first used in reference to Russian soldiers without insignia who seized key strategic facilities in Crimea in 2014 in the opening phase of the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula. Concerns among NATO members about a potential Russian aggression and Washington's commitment to the alliance have grown since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. The new administration has signaled plans to reduce military presence in Europe, and Trump has even directly challenged the collective defense principle by saying the U.S. would not defend NATO members who do not invest sufficiently in their military capabilities. New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveled to Washington last week to meet Trump and discuss joint support for Ukraine and NATO's future. While the talks proceeded relatively smoothly, the German chancellor failed to obtain any concrete commitments from Trump. Multiple Ukrainian and Western officials have warned that Russia may be preparing for an open confrontation with NATO after ending its war against Kyiv. The preparations may pick up pace if Western sanctions are lifted as part of a potential peace deal, Ukrainian intelligence said. Read also: What UK's Strategic Defense Review means for Ukraine We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Russia has plans to test Nato's resolve, German intelligence chief warns
Germany's foreign intelligence said Russia planned to extend its confrontation with the West beyond the borders of Ukraine. (AFP pic) BERLIN : Russia is determined to test the resolve of the Nato alliance, including by extending its confrontation with the West beyond the borders of Ukraine, the Germany's foreign intelligence chief told the Table Media news organisation. Bruno Kahl, head of the Federal Intelligence Service, said his agency had clear intelligence indications that Russian officials believed the collective defence obligations enshrined in the Nato treaty no longer had practical force. 'We are quite certain, and we have intelligence showing it, that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward,' Kahl told Table Media in a podcast interview. 'That doesn't mean we expect tank armies to roll westwards,' he added. 'But we see that Nato's collective defence promise is to be tested.' Germany, already the second-largest provider of armaments and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, has pledged to step up its support further under the new government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, promising to help Ukraine develop new missiles that could strike deep into Russian territory. Without detailing the nature of his intelligence sources, Kahl said Russian officials were envisaging confrontations that fell short of a full military engagement that would test whether the US would really live up to its mutual aid obligations under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 'They don't need to dispatch armies of tanks for that,' he said. 'It's enough to send little green men to Estonia to protect supposedly oppressed Russian minorities.' Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea involved occupation of buildings and offices by Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms and civilian clothes, who came to be known as the 'little green men' when Moscow initially denied their identity. Kahl did not specify which officials in Moscow were thinking along these lines. Merz, who visited Donald Trump in Washington last week, pushed back against the US president's assertion that Ukraine and Russia were like two infants fighting, telling Trump that where Ukraine targeted Moscow's military, Russia bombed Ukraine's cities. Kahl said his contacts with US counterparts had left him convinced they took the Russian threat seriously. 'They take it as seriously as us, thank God,' he said.
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Russia has plans to test NATO's resolve, German intelligence chief warns
BERLIN: Russia is determined to test the resolve of the NATO alliance, including by extending its confrontation with the West beyond the borders of Ukraine, the Germany's foreign intelligence chief told the Table Media news organization. Bruno Kahl, head of the Federal Intelligence Service, said his agency had clear intelligence indications that Russian officials believed the collective defense obligations enshrined in the NATO treaty no longer had practical force. 'We are quite certain, and we have intelligence showing it, that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward,' Kahl told Table Media in a podcast interview. 'That doesn't mean we expect tank armies to roll westwards,' he added. 'But we see that NATO's collective defense promise is to be tested.' Germany, already the second-largest provider of armaments and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, has pledged to step up its support further under the new government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, promising to help Ukraine develop new missiles that could strike deep into Russian territory. Without detailing the nature of his intelligence sources, Kahl said Russian officials were envisaging confrontations that fell short of a full military engagement that would test whether the US would really live up to its mutual aid obligations under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 'They don't need to dispatch armies of tanks for that,' he said. 'It's enough to send little green men to Estonia to protect supposedly oppressed Russian minorities.' Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea involved occupation of buildings and offices by Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms and civilian clothes, who came to be known as the 'little green men' when Moscow initially denied their identity. Kahl did not specify which officials in Moscow were thinking along these lines. Merz, who visited Donald Trump in Washington last week, pushed back against the US president's assertion that Ukraine and Russia were like two infants fighting, telling Trump that where Ukraine targeted Moscow's military, Russia bombed Ukraine's cities. Kahl said his contacts with US counterparts had left him convinced they took the Russian threat seriously. 'They take it as seriously as us, thank God,' he said.
