European leaders are increasingly asking themselves a pressing question:
What would happen if Vladimir Putin’s Russia decided to attack Europe?
One of the first to address this was Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, who warned that Europe must be prepared for war by 2029.
Putin’s motivations stem from what he perceives as NATO’s slow but relentless expansion.
Sweden’s Defense Minister has also raised the possibility of a war against Russia, a scenario explored in-depth by Newsweek, which recently published maps outlining potential flashpoints.
Finland, Baltic or Kaliningrad?
One likely front could be the border between Finland and Russia, especially after Finland joined NATO in 2023. But it is possible that NATO membership can act as a deterrent to Putin.
The Baltic states, which are geographically close to Russia and home to significant Russian-speaking minorities, also remain potential targets, according to Hotnews.
Regardless of NATO’s deterrence, the Baltic states are preparing for any eventuality.
Estonia plans to expand its military significantly within the next decade, while Lithuania has already installed anti-tank defenses known as “dragon’s teeth” along its border.
Another potential flashpoint is Kaliningrad, Russia’s heavily armed exclave between Lithuania and Poland, and the nearby Suwalki Corridor.
This narrow strip of land is a vital link between NATO’s Baltic and Central European territories. Its strategic importance, combined with the presence of Russian troops and weaponry in Kaliningrad, makes it a potential zone of conflict.
The Black Sea region also poses a threat. In April 2022, Russian General Rustam Minnekaev stated that Moscow’s goal was to create a land corridor through southern Ukraine to Transnistria, Moldova’s pro-Russian breakaway region.
Such a move would push the conflict closer to NATO borders, potentially involving Turkey, which neighbors the pro-Russian region of Abkhazia.
