In the case of success in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin may order an invasion of the Baltic states.
This was stated by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin during hearings in the US House of Representatives, Ukrinform reports.
"If Ukraine is defeated, again, Putin will not stop there. It will simply continue to advance and attack the sovereign territory of its neighbors. And so if you're a Baltic country, you have concerns that you could be next. They know Putin and know what he is capable of," said the head of the US Defense Department.
In this way, he answered the question of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who asked to clarify for ordinary Americans why further support for Ukraine is so important for the national security interests of the United States.
In this context, Austin also emphasized that if the Russian Federation succeeds in the war in Ukraine, the North Atlantic Alliance will have to fight with the Russians - given the fact that the Baltic countries are part of NATO and the obligations of the Alliance countries to protect each other.
Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 01/03/2024