Although Europe is looking forward to an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which would end 3 years of full-scale invasion of Moscow, there are besides countries that are afraid about the consequences for their own safety.
‘Financial Times’ indicates that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have concerns. The defence ministers of these countries estimation that in the event of a ceasefire Moscow will not halt and will effort to decision further beyond Ukraine.
War in Ukraine. The Baltic countries fear peace. “Let us not lie to each other”
"Baltic states indicate that the Kremlin has already presented plans to increase military production and additional troops along their borders” — indicated in the publication.
Estonia's defence minister Hanno Pevkur stated in an interview with the British paper that "we all realize that erstwhile the war in Ukraine is stopped, Russia will redistribute its forces very quickly."
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– This besides means that the level of hazard will increase very quickly – he added. The head of the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania, Dovile Sakaliene, is of the same opinion, who indicated that "no illusions".
As the Minister added, “let us not lie to ourselves that Russia will end up in Ukraine.” – Russia will usage this time after the ceasefire to improve its military capabilities. They already have a immense army, trained in the field, which will become even bigger," she said.
The countries neighbouring Russia have no fear. They point to military exercises with Belarus
According to the author of the publication in the Financial Times, the interruption of the fights would give Russia a chance to complete the plan that was to be implemented in 2022, i.e. creation of 1.5 million army members and the creation of an additional military corps in the north. Thus, the number of Russian soldiers close the Baltic countries would double.
Concerns among the Baltic countries besides arise military exercises ‘Zapad’, organized jointly by Russia and Belarus, which will be held in the autumn close their borders.
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The exercises under the name “Zapad” are attended by tens of thousands of soldiers, tanks or aircraft – like the “Financial Times” – are held all 4 years and simulate conflict with NATO countries.
Peace in Ukraine does not mean no future conflicts. “Russia can go on”
However, the concerns of the Baltic countries do not halt there. Defence Ministers of Estonia and Lithuania besides mentioned relocating NATO troops from their countries to Ukraine. They would have gone there after the conflict ended to halt Russia from attacking again.
– We cannot compromise the safety of the east flank of NATO.. We cannot fall into a trap that our forces are someway immobilized in Ukraine. Then we will have a hazard on our border – assessed Hanna Pevkur.
"The states of the east flank of NATO, including Poland and Romania, declared that they could not commit to deploying troops in Ukraine at the expense of their own security," the British diary noted.
Let us remind you, at the beginning of the week, the White home reported that Ukraine and Russia agreed to an agreement to guarantee safe shipping in the Black Sea. Countries were besides to agree to ban attacks on energy facilities in both countries. The Kremlin, however, sets its terms, and 1 of them is abolishing Western sanctions or reconnecting Russia to the financial SWIFT system. Simultaneously Moscow continues its massive attacks to Ukrainian towns.
Source: “Financial Times”, Interia
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