COUNTDOWN TO CONFLICT
Putin could launch war with West within next two years, chilling new German intelligence warns
Putin this week declared weapons 'exist in order to use them'
RUSSIA could launch a large-scale attack on the West as soon as 2026, classified German intelligence documents have reportedly revealed.
German spooks are said to have recently observed a "significant intensification of Russian arms".
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The classified report, seen by , reportedly suggests Russia is preparing for a large-scale conflict with the West.
The reorganisation of Russia's army, troop movements, and missile deployments in the west of the country are among the signs said to be identified in the document.
The outlet said: "... analysis by German intelligence services is currently circulating in the German government.
"According to this, a significant intensification of Russian arms production is being observed, which could lead to Russia doubling its military power in the next five years compared to today, especially in conventional weapons."
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The projections reportedly led intelligence services to conclude that an attack on Nato territory could "no longer be ruled out" from 2026.
Nato officials were said to be concerned about Russia's growing military capabilities but did not believe, necessarily, that it meant the West will be dragged into war with Russia, Business Insider reports.
An American intelligence assessment found it might take Russia five to eight years to restore its military strength to what it was before Putin's disastrous invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The report has not yet been made public by German spies, the outlet noted.
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Vladimir Putin this week warned he is prepared to launch nuclear weapons if he feels the West is threatening Russia's sovereignty.
He declared weapons "exist in order to use them" in his most chilling World War Three threat yet.
Russia threatens 'scumbag' saboteurs with JAIL as opposition leader urges protesters to storm sham election
The despot is all but certain to win another six-year term in Russia's presidential election being held this weekend.
Days before the polling booths opened, Putin emphasised that Moscow is "ready" from "a military-technical point of view" in the event of a perceived threat to national security.
He said: "Weapons exist in order to use them.
"We have our own principles.
"We are ready to use weapons, including any weapons, including [nuclear], if we are talking about the existence of the Russian state, harming our sovereignty and independence."
Leaked government documents were claimed by Ukrainian hackers to prove the tyrant is preparing for a major conflict.
The bombshell papers, seemingly signed by Putin, supposedly revealed his chilling plans to attack Europe if Ukraine is defeated.
Ukraine's National Resistance Centre said its hackers intercepted the documents via email.
The papers laid out a five-step plan that will be introduced after this weekend's sham election.
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In a letter understood to be written to Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin, head of the State Duma, proposed policies for his next term that would likely plunge Europe into war.
The polices were centred around five key ideas: nationalisation of key industries, an increase in censorship, crushing the opposition, total de-Westernisation of Russia, and "export of chaos" across Europe.
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Putin's nuclear threats
BELOW is a timeline of some of the thinly veiled, and more cutthroat threats Vladimir Putin has made against the West with his nuclear arsenal since invading Ukraine two years ago.
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 - Vladimir Putin: “No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history."
MARCH 26, 2022 - Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev: “We have a special document on nuclear deterrence. This document clearly indicates the grounds on which the Russian Federation is entitled to use nuclear weapons. … [This includes] when an act of aggression is committed against Russia and its allies."
APRIL 20, 2022 - Vladimir Putin: “[The new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads] will force all who are trying to threaten our country in the heat of frenzied, aggressive rhetoric to think twice."
FEBRUARY 18, 2024: Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev: "Attempts to return Russia to the borders of 1991 will lead to only one thing. Towards a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic arsenal of our state."
FEBRUARY 29, 2024 - Vladimir Putin: “They must understand that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory... All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?”
MARCH 13, 2024 - Vladimir Putin: "From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready. ... Weapons exist in order to use them. We have our own principles."
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