The German general warned that Vladimir Putin will do “things that we can’t even imagine right now” to Europe.
Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl, president of the Federal Academy for Security Policy, claims that Germany is already facing Russian cyber attacks, but fears that Putin could step up attacks across Europe and even send in ground troops.
In his address, he also criticized Donald Trump.
Stahl expressed his belief that Putin would use military force if given the chance. “When I see how Putin has acted so far and the way in which, in my estimation, he is on a mission against the West, then there is no doubt whether he will use military means. If he gets the chance, he will use them,” he said.
He expressed concern about the possible reaction of European leaders in the event that Russia attacks NATO territory, claiming that the liberal democratic order is threatened.
“People will immediately say, ‘Uh, we don’t have to fight at all. We have to solve this diplomatically. We can’t solve this militarily,’” predicted Stahl.
“I don’t know what kind of discussions and what kind of currents could be unleashed here in Germany. I have some concerns about that.”
He added that in such a situation, NATO would have to face a key question: “If Russian soldiers occupy NATO territory, then NATO must say: ‘How will we expel them so that the territory is returned to NATO, not only de jure but de facto?’”
“The world is falling apart at the seams. It is turbulent. It is cruel. Lawlessness reigns, a state of disorder… We urgently need to work on strengthening our foundations,” he said.
The German military commander has sharply criticized Donald Trump, calling him an “egomaniacal, narcissistic, unstable negotiator with authoritarian tendencies.”
Even so, Stahl said he remains confident the US will provide its “nuclear umbrella” to Europe, even if it withdraws some ground forces from the continent.
“My biggest intellectual challenge is the president,” Stahl admitted. “I saw at the Munich Security Conference that I’m not the only one who has difficulties; the Americans have them too. They have an unstable president.”
He added that it is difficult for him when everyone says that they are staying in Europe because a stable Europe is a vital interest for the USA, and then they are faced with a president like this. Stahl stated that the four key pillars of German security – the EU, NATO, national economic strength and social cohesion – are under great pressure.
Stahl’s comments come as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, after US-brokered peace talks collapsed in less than two hours.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it is unfair that Donald Trump puts more pressure on his country than on Russia.
The second day of talks ended on Wednesday, but neither side suggested they were any closer to ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
According to the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, the talks lasted only two hours, significantly shorter than the six-hour meeting held the day before. Neither side explained in detail what was discussed or whether an agreement was reached, but both said the talks were difficult.
On Monday, Trump put pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal, saying they “better get to the table quickly.”
However, Zelensky said in a statement to Axios that it is “unfair” that Ukraine, and not Russia, is facing more pressure, adding that lasting peace cannot be achieved if “victory” is simply left to Moscow. “I hope it’s just his tactics, not a decision,” Zelenski said.
The Ukrainian president said late on Tuesday that he was ready to move “quickly” towards an agreement, but questioned whether Russia was serious about peace.
The US is pushing for an end to the nearly four-year-old war, but has so far failed to broker a compromise between Moscow and Kiev on the key territorial issue.
(Vijesti.ba)
