Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas warned that Russia could seek a new confrontation involving the Baltic States or Poland while the Kremlin struggles to achieve its objectives in Ukraine.
Speaking to Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, Kaunas claimed that Moscow had failed to achieve the victory it had hoped for after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to him, the conflict has increasingly exposed Russia to internal pressures, with explosions on Russian territory and fuel shortages affecting the country.
Kaunas said these developments are leading more Russians to question the Kremlin’s leadership and promises made by President Vladimir Putin. “People wonder why this is happening and where the promised victory is” he said.
THE Lithuanian The defense minister argued that the Kremlin now needed another success to strengthen its position domestically and could try to create a new crisis elsewhere.
“Putin needs a new escalation, some kind of new victory, and in this situation the closest targets are the Baltic region and Poland“, Kaunas said.
His remarks followed comments from Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who recently confirmed reports that Russia could organize provocations against Poland or the Baltic States to test NATO unity and response.
According to Nausėda, the assessment is based on intelligence information indicating that Moscow could target critical infrastructure in the region. He said such actions could involve either conventional military attacks or hybrid operations designed to create instability without triggering a full-scale conflict.
Concerns about possible Russian provocations have also found echoes elsewhere in the region. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski previously warned that Moscow could attempt a false flag operation using Ukrainian-made drones.
At the same time, Lithuanian Defense Chief General Raimundas Vaikšnoras said that there is currently no clear indication that Russia prepares a conventional military attack against Lithuania or the other Baltic states.
He warned, however, that limited provocations involving military means cannot be ruled out, even if there is no immediate evidence of preparations for a broader invasion.
Previous media reports also claimed that the United States had warned Polish authorities that Russia could consider an armed provocation against Poland as a way to “test NATO’s resolve”, further fueling concerns about security along the alliance’s eastern flank.
Source: Novinite
