Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering a “mini-invasion” of a Nato country to test Western leaders, a Polish spymaster has claimed.
Jarosław Stróżyk, leader of Poland’s counterintelligence service, claimed the Russian leader is considering invading parts of Estonia and Sweden.
He said: “Putin is certainly already prepared for some mini-operation against one of the Baltic countries, for example, to enter the famous Narva [a city in Estonia] or to land on one of the Swedish islands.”
Estonia joined Nato in 2004 but Sweden only signed up in March this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin walks before an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow,
REUTERS
The military alliance has repeatedly said all members will come to the aid of one of its own if it is attacked.
Stróżyk warned Putin’s dream of building a new Russian Empire has been delayed due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The Polish spymaster added: "What the West is doing together to support Ukraine shows him that in the event of an attack on Nato, the Western response would be even greater."
However, Nato members appear united in how to respond to any Russian aggression.
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Vladimir Putin continues to face global backlash to his war in UkraineREUTERSPolish President Andrzej Duda argued the ex-satellite state was ready to host allied nuclear weapons in its territory.
Duda said: "If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing also on our territory to strengthen the security of Nato's eastern flank, we are ready for it."
Putin, who is serving his fifth consecutive term in the Kremlin, issued a 10-word threat to the West during his inauguration speech yesterday.
He also stated: "I will do everything possible, everything within my abilities to justify your trust."
Putin is the leader of Russia GETTY Putin added: "We are a single and great nation and together we will overcome all obstacles and implement and realise everything that we dream of. Together we will win."
Despite the explosive remarks from the Russian President, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps highlighted the enhanced role and strength of Nato in response to aggression from the Kremlin.
He told MPs: "Nato has become stronger because of Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
"It has added members: two new members have joined us, and we therefore outgun Putin on every single metric.
"We have three times as many submarines and fighter jets, four times as many tanks, helicopters and artillery pieces, four and a half times as many warships, six times as many armed vehicles, eight times as many transport carriers and 16 times as many aircraft carriers."