Head of Munich Security Conference: Russia could attack NATO

A Russian attack on any of NATO member states cannot be expelled, Christoph Heusgen, leader of the Munich Security Conference, said in a statement Saturday, days before the gathering of world leaders and defence experts in this German city.

Asked if he thinks the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, could issue an order for such an attack, Heusgen has confirmed.

“Putin has reiterated that the break-up of the Soviet Union has been the greatest disaster of the 20th century because it has resulted in many Russians remaining outside the borders of Russia”.

He has said Putin aims at reshaping a Great Russia with the former borders of the Soviet Union to become a global empire, which he could lead as a car.

“If Putin does not lose the war in Ukraine, we need to keep in mind that he can rob Moldova or the Baltic republics”, he has said.

Heusgen has denied speculation about what Putin will do.

Well, we have to do everything to make sure Ukraine accepts the weapons and military assistance it needs to successfully resist Russian aggressors and to remove them from the national territory”, he has said.

Heusgen has served as foreign policy adviser to former German cavalier Angela Merkel, in the period 2007-2017, along nearly all her leadership.

He was later appointed Germany's ambassador to the United Nations before being appointed head of Munich's conference.

Speaking before an American Republican moderator, Tucker Carlson, this week Putin has said that Russia has no territorial ambitions as far as Poland and Latvia are concerned.

He has said that a Russian invasion into these NATO states can only happen if Poland attacks Russia.

Munich Security Conference will be held on 16-18 February, and 50 world leaders are expected to attend.

Russia and Iran have not received invitations. / REL/