Pistorius suggests that Russia may launch an attack on NATO countries within the next five years.

He stated this to Delfi during his visit to Vilnius.

According to him, this is why it is particularly important to ensure the Alliance's defense capability.

Pistorius mentioned that military experts are closely monitoring events in Russia and point out that the armed forces of the Russian Federation are significantly expanding.

“There [in Russia], the military industry is developing seriously, with a large number of tanks and aircraft being produced, which means that the armed forces of the Russian Federation are growing substantially. By 2026, their numbers are likely to increase to 1.5 million soldiers”, the official stated.

He noted that the same military experts believe that “Putin could reorganize his armed forces in 2029-2030 to create the necessary conditions for a potential theoretical attack on other countries, particularly NATO member states.”

“So by that time, we must ensure our defense capability. This task, of course, requires both time and money, but we are striving towards this goal”, the minister emphasized.

Additionally, German intelligence data from last year indicated that the Russian army could attack NATO countries before 2030.