Diplomats say Putin’s brutalisation of Ukraine has brought back darkest memories of occupation under Stalin

Diplomats say Putin’s brutalisation of Ukraine has brought back darkest memories of occupation under Stalin

Nato must be ready for Russia launching an “existential” war against the Baltic states “masked by a blizzard of disinformation”, ambassadors from the three countries have warned.

Writing exclusively for The Sunday Telegraph, the top diplomats to the UK from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said that Russia could “pivot quickly” from Ukraine to invade the Baltic.

And they said that Vladimir Putin’s brutalisation of Ukraine is evoking the three countries’ “darkest memories” of occupation under Stalin.

The Estonian ambassador Viljar Lubi, the Latvian ambassador Ivita Burmistre, and Lithuania’s charge d’affaire Lina Zigmantaite, wrote the joint article to mark Friday’s 20 year anniversary of their countries acceding to Nato.

  • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
    216·
    8 months ago

    If Russia was going to attack NATO the place to do it would be on the Swedish border. As NATO not deployed that many forces in that area, mostly to avoid antagonising the Russians.

    In the absence of any explicit threat though I don’t think NATO really needs to do anything very much.

    • Telodzrum@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      8 months ago
      1. Sweden doesn’t have a land border with Russia
      2. You’re probably thinking of the Finnish border. Here’s the thing, Finland has spent its entire history preparing for Russian invasions.
      • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        If im being really nice maybe theyre talking about a strike from the bit of Prussia the Russians own over to Gotland and then using that foothold to attack into mainland Sweden. But im pretty sure the Swedes fortified Gotland specifically for that issue so IDFK.

    • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      8 months ago

      This dude is going by pre-20th century European borders lol

      I know it’s a meme we don’t exist, but we actually do. We’ve also got the biggest and arguably most accurate artillery in Europe.

      Homeland defence willingness against a superior enemy is at 83%, one of the highest rates in Europe.

      And seeing what we managed in WWII against Russia without allies or gear (now we have both), when the Soviets were well armed, it’s understandable Putin would be a bit apprehensive about opening up a new front on the Finnish border.