Commander Of The German Armed Forces On The War Between Russia And NATO: Everything Points To One Date

• 15.05.2026, 10:17

Which one?

Russia may get the opportunity to attack NATO countries already in the coming years. This was stated by Bundeswehr Inspector General Karsten Breuer in a joint interview with his British counterpart Richard Knighton in the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Answering the question of whether Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is capable of attacking NATO, Breuer said that Russia would be in a position to attack NATO in 2029, but it could happen even earlier.

"Various indicators - armament, increased manpower, economic and political changes - point to one date: 2029. Could it happen sooner? Yes.

That is why we need, first, readiness for immediate engagement; second, enhanced combat capability by 2029; and third, technological superiority by 2035 and beyond. The new military strategy and capability profile define the way forward," the commander added.

Nighton also emphasized that Russia could attack one of the NATO countries, but the exact date is difficult to predict.

"But the trend is clear: the threat is growing. Russia is fighting in Ukraine, drawing conclusions from this experience and developing new technologies. And Putin has demonstrated his willingness to attack sovereign states. The closer to the Russian border, the stronger this is felt," Nathan noted.

The chairman of the NATO Military Committee (2021-2025) and a member of the Kiev Security Forum's Security Council, Admiral Rob Bauer, said earlier that without China's support, Russia would not be able to wage war against Ukraine on the current scale. And if the decision to attack NATO is made, it will come from Beijing; Moscow is not capable of making such decisions on its own.