17 Oct 2026
NATO top general: The Russian army will be stronger after the war
NATO's commander in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, believes that regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the Russian army will emerge stronger than it is today. Cavoli warned that Russian military forces will become a dangerous adversary for the Alliance, despite significant losses in the conflict.
"At the end of the war in Ukraine, no matter how it looks, the Russian army will be stronger than today," Cavoli stated. He emphasized that NATO should not harbor illusions about Russia's military strength. "The Russian armed forces are learning, they are improving, and they are applying the lessons of the war," he said.
Cavoli urged NATO to prepare quickly for this threat, as Russia will be an opponent with significant military potential and "clear intentions." "That’s why we must be ready and need armed forces that can counter them," the American general insisted. According to Cavoli, the new defense plans of the Alliance and the resulting additional requirements for individual NATO partners must be implemented swiftly. "When I say quickly, I mean we need to be faster than the Russians," he added.
It's worth noting that the head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Bruno Kahl, believes Russia will be capable of attacking NATO territory within the next six years. Polish President Andrzej Duda also expressed concern that Russia may soon have such military capabilities that it could launch an attack on NATO as early as 2026-27.
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