Top Ukraine Official Warns Russia Could Capture ‘Baltics in 7 Days’

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official warned about the threat Moscow poses on other nations in Europe, saying “the Russians will take the Baltics in seven days” if allies don’t stand up to Russia now.

The comment was made by Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (GUR), during an interview with The Economist published on Thursday.

The alarm has been sounded before about the potential of Russian President Vladimir Putin looking to start conflicts in the Baltic states. Earlier this year, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote that the Russian leader appeared to be making an effort to weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with rhetoric concerning the Baltics—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—that was intended “to set information conditions” for “future escalations.” All three of the Baltic countries are members of NATO and the European Union (EU).

Article Five of NATO’s founding document states that “an armed attack against one or more” of its member nations “shall be considered an attack against them all.”

According to Skibitsky, countries bordering Ukraine need to increase defense production in order to better aid Kyiv because Putin could very well look to invade other countries.

The Economist wrote that Skibitsky said NATO’s military presence in Ukraine’s neighbors would not slow a Russian invasion.

“The Russians will take the Baltics in seven days,” he said. “NATO’s reaction time is ten days.”

Newsweek reached out to NATO and the Kremlin via email on Friday for comment.

Elsewhere in the interview, Skibitsky said that Ukraine must at some point negotiate with Russia in order to bring an end to the war started by Putin in February 2022. His suggestion seems to contrast with the public stance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who has previously said he did not see the point of entering into peace talks with the Kremlin.

Skibitsky also spoke about the situation in Chasiv Yar, a strategic stronghold for Ukraine in the Donetsk region. Earlier this week, the ISW reported that Putin’s military appeared to be concentrating its efforts on seizing the town.

“…Russian forces are somewhat slowing down the rate of attacks around Avdiivka while re-committing to offensive pushes around Chasiv Yar,” the ISW wrote on Tuesday.

According to Skibitsky, Russia will probably soon overtake Ukraine’s forces for control of Chasiv Yar.

“Not today or tomorrow, of course, but all depending on our reserves and supplies,” the general said to The Economist.

He went on to say that he believes Russia will next turn its sights on the northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy. Skibitsky added that Moscow’s forces are building toward a bigger offensive toward the end of this month or the “beginning of June,” depending on Ukraine’s defenses in the Donbas.