Kremlin does not rule out conflict with NATO “within 10 years”
- 17 December, 13:25
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has suggested that the Kremlin must be ready for different scenarios, including the war with NATO in the next 10 years.
Addressing a Defense Ministry meeting on Monday, December 16, Belousov said confrontation with NATO was possible due to unspecified changes in NATO countries' doctrines and conclusions reached during the Washington summit in July.
The ministry stressed that preparation for war is indicated at the North Atlantic Alliance summit held in July of this year. “This is also reflected in the doctrinal documents of the United States and other NATO countries," Belousov added. The minister further announced that a military branch dedicated to unmanned systems are scheduled to be established by the third quarter of 2025.
Furthermore, Belousov said Ukraine has lost around million people since the start of the war, a figure much higher that official figures provided by Kyiv. According to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensiy Ukraine suffered 43,000 soldiers killed and 400,000 injured in its war against Russia.
It should be noted that Russia’s ties with the North Atlantic Alliance have deteriorated since its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has issued series of veiled threats to the alliance, including the possible use of nuclear weapons, due to NATO’s military aid to Ukraine. During its latest summit in July, NATO provided Ukraine with $43 billion in funding, air defence systems and a representative in capital Kyiv.
