Asger Risom
Germany’s top spy warns that widespread support for the Ukraine war allows Putin to control Russian society—and may signal broader confrontations with NATO ahead.
Russia’s war in Ukraine is no longer just “Putin’s war,” according to Bruno Kahl, head of Germany’s federal intelligence agency (BND).
Speaking on the podcast Table Today, Kahl said the Russian public overwhelmingly backs the Kremlin’s line on the war, a stance that gives President Vladimir Putin sweeping power to manipulate opinion across the country.
Propaganda Keeps the War Popular
Kahl dismissed the long-held Western belief that the Russian people oppose the conflict. “We have the impression that the entire Russian population is ready to follow Putin, that this war is necessary, and that NATO is the aggressor,” he said.
That loyalty, he argued, is rooted in Putin’s complete control over the propaganda apparatus, which shapes perceptions nationwide.
Even as minor disagreements exist within Russia’s political elite, Kahl insisted that “no opposition could, in any way, stop Putin.”
He pointed to past negotiation attempts, including those in Istanbul, as evidence that Russia seeks nothing short of Ukrainian capitulation.
Concern Over NATO’s Stability
Kahl warned that Russia may soon widen its confrontation with the West. “We’re quite certain—and we have operational information to support this—that Ukraine is just one stage in Russia’s westward ambitions,” he said.
In an interview with Table Media, cited by Digi24, Kahl added that Russian officials increasingly question whether NATO’s mutual defense guarantees carry real weight.
While he stressed that Germany does not expect a conventional ground invasion, he cautioned that “NATO’s promise of collective defense may soon be tested.”
His remarks echo a recent statement from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who warned that Russia is strengthening its military capabilities and could use force against alliance members within five years.
As the war grinds on, Kahl’s message is clear: Putin’s power is not isolated, and the next front in Russia’s confrontation with the West may be broader than many expect.