German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR, and NDR also cite the report, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears intent on testing NATO’s Article 5 guarantees. The alliance’s mutual defence clause obliges member states to come to one another’s aid if attacked. The assessment suggests Putin may seek to challenge how seriously that commitment would be honoured.

  • Richard@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    They barely could handle a war with small Ukraine, a full scale war with NATO is a no-go; and I’m quite certain Putin won’t live that long

    • lepinkainen@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      They’ll make it ✨ inconvenient✨ for people.

      Sabotaging water sources (already practiced this in Finland), power stations (happened in Sweden), cutting undersea cables.

      Way too many people are willing to let other people die rather than be inconvenienced.

    • Halcyon@discuss.tchncs.de
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      9 months ago

      Clearly, Putin underestimated Ukraine at the beginning of his invasion. But Russia can maintain the war against Ukraine for a long time to come.

      Putin has no other choice: the entire Russian economy is dependent on war and armaments and would collapse if peace were concluded. Putin could no longer control his country without an external enemy.

      Hence his narrative of the “Nazis” who must be fought in Ukraine (and soon on other borders (see Suwalki Gap)). This narrative of the Nazis ties in with the russian history of the Great Patriotic War, and this resonates with the Russian population. Putin is building a sequel to WWII, with renewed external threats, and the people are receptive to that.

      Therefore, Putin is not at all interested in a peace treaty. And the conflict with NATO countries has already begun: the severed power cables and data cables in the Baltic Sea and the attacks on our information systems should have been regarded as acts of war from their beginning. The threat is there NOW. And Europe and NATO must build up strength.

    • ManicMambo@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Presidents have access to the best medical resources, and Putin seems to be in fine shape. He could live 10 more years. I’m saying that in the hope of a pleasant surprise.

    • el_bhm@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Kremlin believed that Ukraine was a country that would fall to their knees, bend over and happily join them.

      Now they are taking their time and bomb civilians, infrastructure.

      They are taking their time. This is not an inability. This is a deliberate breaking of Ukraine’s back.

      Painting russia as unable to take over Ukraine by force is also false. They could throw enough meat to take over. Without blinking an eye.

      Ask yourself. What is more beneficial? Ukraine partisants that keep sabotaging them after a violent takeover? Or disappointed and frustrated Ukraine after it slowly collapsed?

      There were SS groups that consisted of volunteers from the conquered countries.

      Never discredit an enemy. It serves no one but them.