Vladimir Putin could be preparing a make-or-break push to win the war in Ukraine "at any cost" while "bullying" Europe into standing aside, a leading British defence expert has warned.
Professor Michael Clarke, former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), believes the Russian leader may seek to settle the conflict within the next six months by dramatically escalating Moscow's war effort.
"I think Putin is interested in the option of settling this once and for all in the next six months at any cost," Prof Clarke told the Daily Express.
Mass mobilisation and North Korean troops
He said this could involve mobilising hundreds of thousands more soldiers, deploying North Korean troops and taking increasingly drastic measures to sustain Russia's war machine.
Prof Clarke added: "Part of that strategy will be to frighten Europe and bully Europe to stand aside while he suppresses Ukraine with another three or 400,000 troops."
His warning comes amid mounting fears of Russian action beyond Ukraine.
Reported threats to NATO countries
US intelligence has reportedly warned European governments that Moscow could launch Gerbera drones from commercial vessels in the Mediterranean against targets in Spain, France or Italy. The reported scenario could involve attacks aimed at disrupting airports or other infrastructure.
European officials have also warned that Russia is intensifying sabotage, cyberattacks, drone incursions and other "hybrid" operations aimed at frightening European countries into reducing their support for Kyiv.
Moscow denies planning attacks on NATO.
Intensified assault on Ukraine
Russia has also intensified its assault on Ukraine. Moscow recently launched a major missile and drone barrage against Kyiv and other cities, while Russian officials have vowed to step up strikes following Ukrainian attacks on Moscow.
Prof Clarke said Putin may calculate that US President Donald Trump will not intervene to stop further escalation.
But he cautioned against assuming Europe was heading towards another world war. "There won't be a World War Three," he said, although "a more general European war is possible".
"I don't think we're necessarily heading for war, but we're heading for military crises."
He added that "fighting around the fringes of NATO" was becoming more likely as Moscow seeks to test the alliance's resolve.
