German Army General Carsten Breuer views the rising Russian military buildup as an increasing threat. In an interview with German media outlet Tagesspiegel, the high-ranking German general emphasized that the Russian army is heading towards the West.
“We observe that the Russian army is moving towards the West. In five to eight years, Moscow’s armed forces will be equipped with the materials and personnel necessary to launch an attack on NATO territory,” said General Carsten Breuer.
Breuer cited intelligence reports and allied armed forces, as well as statements from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the basis for his assessments. “The Russian army is adding 1,000 to 1,500 additional tanks each year. The five largest European NATO member states have only half of their stockpiles. The German army has about 300 battle tanks. If this capability is combined with the intentions, which can certainly be read from Putin’s speeches, this should alarm us. It is my duty to consider such a worst-case scenario. We need to prepare for this possibility in five years.”
Regarding developments on the eastern front of Ukraine, the German General does not expect significant changes in the front lines in Ukraine at the moment, but he believes Kyiv remains dependent on support.
Meanwhile, Russia has strongly reacted to the plan to seize Russian assets in Europe and use them as financial support for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would respond harshly to any use of Russian assets in Europe to support Ukraine militarily. “One way or another, there will be a response. The actions of these thieves cannot go unreciprocated,” said Peskov. The European Union estimates that frozen Russian assets could generate around 15-20 billion euros in returns by 2027.
