A Ukrainian military intelligence chief has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch World War Three by 2027, with plans to occupy three NATO and EU states. Lieutenant-General Kyrylo Budanov alleged that Putin intends to invade Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and also strike Poland without immediate occupation.
Budanov, whose forces have conducted numerous strikes inside Russian territory, said Moscow had revised its original timeline for operations from 2030 to 2027. He claimed Putin sees Russia as an empire that must expand, driven by historical and psychological traumas including the fall of the Soviet Union.
According to Budanov, Putin views the West as the only direction for expansion, constrained by the US in the Pacific, China, and the Arctic. He portrayed Europe as 'hungry, sick, weak and indecisive' in the Russian leader's narrative.
Any attack on NATO members would trigger Article 5, obligating all allies to assist, potentially with armed force. Putin himself refused to rule out further military action during his annual Q&A, stating that operations would cease only if the West respects Russian interests and stops what he called deception over NATO expansion.
The warning comes amid ongoing peace talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia, while Russian missile strikes continue to pound Ukrainian territory.
