**NEWSWEEK:** Russia's defence minister says the army must be ready to fight NATO in a decade. Is it real?
Mother Korowaj If the conflict is confined to Europe, Russia can be ready much faster. If sanctions are lifted and the situation on the Ukrainian front calms down, they will rebuild their forces in 2-3 years. Danish intelligence estimates that after 2 years Russia can endanger the Baltics and in 5 years wage war with NATO. The Russian army has 1.5 million soldiers and despite losses in Ukraine learns from mistakes, changes doctrine and rebuilds potential. It has elite air-desant and Specnaz units, which, without being formally part of the armed forces, can operate outside global law, for example in NATO provocations. The command strategy has been improved with the aid of AI, and the rotation offensive weakens Ukraine's defence.
