NATO's most senior military officer has warned that Ukraine will not be Vladimir Putin's final target, as he called for European allies to double weapons production to prepare for war.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO's military committee, said history showed the Russian leader could not be trusted and NATO would "watch him" as Ukraine peace talks developed.
The admiral insisted that while countries need to do more, NATO is ready for conflict and would outmatch Russia's conventional defence capabilities and nuclear weapons stockpile should tensions escalate.
He urged defence firms to abandon profit-focused thinking in favour of a wartime mentality that prioritises saving battlefield lives.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone has issued the warning
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President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Putin is preparing to add 150,000 troops to Russia's army, a figure that far exceeds most European forces.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader revealed intelligence suggesting Russia was planning to position troops in Belarus under the guise of training exercises.
"It can happen in summer, maybe in the beginning, maybe in the end of summer," Zelensky told NBC News, suggesting Poland and Lithuania could be potential targets.
He predicted there was a "100 percent risk" of Russia occupying parts of Europe if Nato support wanes, particularly targeting former Soviet states.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
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"They will begin from those small countries who've been in the USSR," he warned. French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris amid growing concerns over US-Russia peace talks.
The meeting comes as European allies fear being frozen out of negotiations on Ukraine's future, with US special envoy Keith Kellogg suggesting Europe won't have direct involvement in talks.
The Paris summit will be held under the "Weimar+" format, including France, Germany, Poland, the UK, Italy, Spain and Denmark.
Leaders will discuss what defence capabilities Europe could provide Ukraine, including a plan for automatic NATO membership if Russia breaches any ceasefire agreement.
President Macron has been supportive of Zelensky
GettyZelensky has insisted Ukraine must be involved in any negotiations, stating: "No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine."
Admiral Cavo Dragone emphasised that NATO currently outmatches Russia in both conventional and nuclear capabilities. The alliance's total budget exceeds $1 trillion, compared to Russia's estimated $100 billion.
However, European allies have been urged to increase their defence spending, with Trump pushing for NATO members to raise contributions from two per cent to five per cent of GDP. Currently, 23 of 32 NATO nations are meeting the existing target.
