Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky said his country has intelligence that Russian President Vladimir Putin has planned to target Belarus and warned against the weakening of NATO.
In an interview with NBC News on “Meet the Press,” Zelensky said Putin had the intelligence to plan to carry out military training work with 150,000 people. He warned that before Putin began a full-scale invasion, it could be a similar precursor to the troops on the Ukrainian border, which he claimed was for training purposes.
“We certainly know that he is preparing it from Belarusian territory this year. It could happen in the summer, perhaps at the beginning, perhaps at the end of the summer. When will he prepare? I don't know, but it happens,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky warned that NATO countries could come next.
“And at that moment, Zelensky continued, knowing that he had not succeeded in occupying us. We don't know where he is going. We believe this, so this is what we believe. There is a risk that it could become Poland and Lithuania. Putin believes he will go to war with NATO.”
Zelensky said he believes Putin is waiting for the NATO Alliance to weaken.
“So I told you, 'What is he waiting for?” For example, due to the weakening of NATO, which would think the United States would take the military from Europe. To. Yes, Putin is thinking about it. However, I believe that the US will not take away any troops from Europe, or troops from Europe, as it will seriously weaken NATO and the continent of Europe. Putin definitely expects that. And the fact that we receive information that he considers an invasion against the former Soviet Republic. And forgive me, but today these are NATO countries. ”
Zelensky spoke to a security conference in Munich on Saturday and said, “I really believe it's time” to create a “European Army.”
His remarks came when US officials were about to negotiate the end of a nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said earlier this week that the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO is not realistic. Hegses later softened his stance, but Trump's move to end the war rattles critics and allies.
