Ukrainian president warns Russia could attack NATO within five years

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could potentially launch an attack on a NATO member country within the next five years as a test of the alliance’s resolve.

However, Zelenskyy expressed doubt that such an attack would occur imminently, stating he does not “believe [Putin] is ready” to strike within months, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Zelenskyy underscored the urgency of NATO members increasing their defence spending. He criticized current plans to raise defence budgets to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 as “very slow,” warning, “We believe that, starting from 2030, Putin can have significantly greater capabilities.”

The Ukrainian president highlighted that Ukraine’s resistance is currently impeding Russia’s military progress. “Today, Ukraine is holding him up, he has no time to drill the army,” Zelenskyy remarked, describing Russian forces as “all getting annihilated and wiped out at the battlefield.” He further predicted that Putin “needs a pause, he needs sanctions to be lifted, he needs a drilled army,” adding, “And 10 years is a very long time. He will have a new army ready [by then].”

Addressing Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership, Zelenskyy acknowledged that accession “isn’t possible right now,” but emphasized the long-term importance of Ukraine within the alliance: “NATO needs Ukrainians.” He voiced support for NATO’s current defence spending targets, which include a combined 5 per cent of GDP—3.5 per cent on direct defence and 1.5 per cent on related areas such as infrastructure and cybersecurity—reflecting Cold War-era investment levels. The UK and NATO allies are expected to formally approve these spending plans during the summit in The Hague.

On the possibility of peace negotiations, Zelenskyy expressed openness to ceasefire talks, stating he would engage to see “if real compromises are possible and if there is a real way to end the war.” Yet, he refrained from committing to any territorial concessions, suggesting that military pressure and sanctions would ultimately compel Russia to negotiate.

By Vafa Guliyeva