Kathrine Frich
Petraeus says the Baltic state may be Putin’s next move to test the West’s will.
Petraeus says the Baltic state may be Putin’s next move to test the West’s will.
Putin Won’t Stop in Ukraine, Warns Former CIA Chief
In a blunt speech delivered in London, David Petraeus, the former CIA director and U.S. general, issued a chilling forecast: if Russia wins in Ukraine, a NATO country is next.
And the most likely target? Lithuania.
Petraeus says the Baltic state may be Putin’s next move to test the West’s will.
“We Didn’t Arm Ukraine Enough”
Petraeus slammed both the Biden and Trump administrations for not doing enough, fast enough.
“We made them wait. Every time: a no, then a maybe, then a yes,” he said, citing delays in sending F-16s and Abrams tanks.
The result was lost time and lost lives.
Lithuania in the Crosshairs
Petraeus didn’t mince words: “Lithuania was clearly signaled. We ignored it.”
He believes the Baltic nation, a NATO member bordering Russia and Belarus, could be the site of a Russian incursion meant to provoke or destabilize the alliance.
“Next Stop: The Baltics” If Ukraine Falls
The general warned that Moscow’s ultimate goal isn’t just land, it’s regime change.
Petraeus claims Putin wants to overthrow Zelensky, install a puppet, and control Ukraine fully, before setting his sights on NATO’s eastern edge.
Petraeus Calls for Tougher UK Policy
Breaking with some international norms, Petraeus urged Britain to abandon bans on cluster munitions, claiming they could play a decisive role in stopping Russian advances.
The call reflects a more aggressive stance he believes NATO needs to adopt.
Trump Slammed for “Giving Putin Second Chances”
Petraeus took a swipe at President Trump, accusing him of being too soft on Putin. He also criticized Trump’s envoy to Kyiv, who claimed Russia’s fear of NATO expansion is “justified” and reiterated that Ukraine joining NATO was “not on the table.”
Moldova, Georgia Could Be Next
Petraeus’s warning wasn’t limited to Lithuania.
He echoed growing fears that Georgia and Moldova, two former Soviet republics with pro-West leanings, could be on Russia’s radar for future hybrid or military actions.
Over a Million Dead or Wounded in Ukraine War
According to Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, the war in Ukraine has already claimed an estimated 1.2 million casualties on both sides.
Petraeus described Russia’s losses as “unimaginable,” but warned that the human cost would worsen if NATO doesn’t act decisively.