Germany’s foreign intelligence chief warns that Russia is determined to test the resolve of the NATO alliance by extending its confrontation with the West beyond Ukraine’s borders. Bruno Kahl, head of the Federal Intelligence Service, said Russian officials believe the collective defense obligations enshrined in the NATO treaty no longer have practical force.
Kahl stated that Ukraine is only a step on Russia’s journey westward and that Moscow sees NATO’s collective defense promise as being tested. He did not specify which officials in Moscow are thinking along these lines, but warned of potential confrontations short of a full military engagement.
The term “little green men” was used to describe Russian soldiers who occupied buildings in Crimea in 2014. Kahl said that Russia could send similar troops to Estonia or other NATO countries to test the alliance’s resolve without resorting to a full-scale invasion.
Germany has pledged to increase its support for Ukraine, including providing financial aid and helping develop new missiles that can strike deep into Russian territory. The German government has taken a firm stance against US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Ukraine and Russia are like two infants fighting.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-has-plans-test-natos-resolve-german-intelligence-chief-warns-2025-06-09