LOOK. Putin lashes out at Biden’s “complete nonsense”: “Russia has no interest in war with NATO”
A war between Russia and Europe seemed unthinkable before the war in Ukraine, but according to the chief of staff of the Belgian army, Putin is using increasingly threatening language. The country continues to rearm itself and now has a real war economy, Hofman tells VRT NWS. “I think we should be right to be concerned. They have already shown that they have the will to attack a neighbor.”
According to Hofman, it cannot be ruled out that Russia will want to open a new front in a few years, in addition to the war in Ukraine. “We have to see that we have the capacity to avoid that and show that we are prepared to counterattack if necessary,” he says. “Europe urgently needs to prepare. Those who want peace should prepare for war, to deter Russia.”
During the visit to the Belgian soldiers, a “pessimistic” Hofman also said that the war in Ukraine “is not evolving in the right direction”. “It is absolutely essential that we contribute to a credible deterrent in such a way that Russia’s will to take action against a NATO country disappears.”