Russia may attack NATO after war in Ukraine, German foreign minister warns

Against the backdrop of ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, Wadephul emphasized the importance of serious security guarantees from the West — particularly from the United States.

"This, of course, means commitments and genuine readiness on the part of those making promises to support Ukraine in the event of a renewed Russian invasion," the politician said.

He noted that Ukraine could only discuss territorial concessions if reliable safeguards against another attack were in place.

According to the minister, European countries must also be involved in future security arrangements, although specific steps will be determined only after a ceasefire agreement is reached.

Wadephul warned against excessive optimism, pointing out that Moscow could use a pause in hostilities to rapidly build up forces against the Alliance.

He stressed that the current security architecture must be built on countering Russian threats through stronger armed forces and allied unity.

"Our assessment is — and will remain so in the near future — that we can achieve security in Europe only as security from Russia. Security can be achieved only from a position of strength, unity within the Alliance, and strong defense capabilities," he said.

The German foreign minister declined to assess the likelihood of a scenario in which the Kremlin uses a ceasefire in Ukraine to attack NATO territory.

"I can only advise being prepared for such a development," he added.

As Wadephul noted, Germany has no reason to scale back its defense efforts; Europe should deal with the Kremlin from a position of strength.

"If the Russian army achieves a sustained military success in Ukraine, it would pose a serious threat to NATO," the minister warned.

Russia preparing for war with NATO

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, fears of further Russian aggression have grown across Europe. Countries have begun actively preparing — modernizing their armies and developing defense plans in case of a possible attack.

According to French Chief of the General Staff General Thierry Burkhard, Russia could become a "real threat" to Europe within five years, given the pace of the aggressor state's rearmament.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes Russia could attack one of NATO's countries as early as 2029, once it restores its combat capabilities after losses suffered in the war against Ukraine.

Is Putin ready for war with the West, and how would NATO respond? Read more in the RBC-Ukraine analysis.