# Zelenskyy; Russia plans to attack NATO in 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 14, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313 "2025-02-14T15:42:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/1 "2025-02-14T15:42:46Z")
Ukraine’s President said today that Ukraine has intelligence indicating a planned Russian invasion of a NATO country next year. Seems likely to me. It’s clear Trump plans to collapse NATO and quite possibly invade Canada and Greenland. Collapsing NATO will allow Russia to take Eastern Europe, so there’s probably a deal in place. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/2 "2025-02-14T15:50:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s clear Trump plans to collapse NATO Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pretty much telegraphed this: > [@](#): > > Hegseth told almost 50 of [Ukraine](https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine) ’s Western backers on Wednesday that he had joined their meeting “to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.” > > “The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland. We must — and we are — focusing on security of our own borders,” he said. > > Reading the riot act to U.S. allies, Hegseth said that Ukraine will not get all its territory back from Russia and will not be allowed to join NATO, which would provide the ultimate security guarantee to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin never attacks it again. > > He insisted NATO will not be involved in any future force that might be required to police the peace in Ukraine. European and other nations will, but the Europeans will have to pay for it. No American troops would take part in such an operation, he warned. > > Beyond that, Hegseth said that NATO will not come to the rescue of any European nation involved in that force if it is attacked by Russia. It’s unclear what role the U.S. would play, if any, although Russia is sure to test the force’s resolve if America does not provide backup. > **[NATO is in disarray after the US announces that its security priorities lie...](https://apnews.com/article/nato-us-europeans-ukraine-security-russia-hegseth-d2cd05b5a7bc3d98acbf123179e6b391)** > > U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speech on Ukraine this week has thrown NATO into disarray. It raised troubling questions about America’s commitment to European security. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/3 "2025-02-14T15:52:32Z")
Cite: > **[Putin 'preparing war against Nato countries next year', warns Zelensky -...](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nato-war-putin-zelensky-ukraine-russia-124308240.html)** > > Donald Trump has been criticised for appearing to take the bargaining chips of Ukrainian Nato membership and territorial concessions off the table. Here’s what I don’t understand. If Trump and Hegseth have already basically said that they’ll _begin_ bargaining with Putin from a position that: - Putin gets to keep any Ukrainian land already illegally taken, _and_ - That Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO, then What could Putin _possibly_ gain from invading another country? /s ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/4 "2025-02-14T15:55:38Z")
If Russia does attack NATO, that would be the best thing for Ukraine in multiple ways. Zelensky should be hoping hard that this happens. It would stretch Russia’s forces much thinner, divert forces away from Ukraine, and get a whole lot of nations involved, even if the US stays out. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/5 "2025-02-14T15:58:26Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > That Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO The AP article I linked indicates that Hegseth, at least publicly, is saying that this is _not_ the case (emphasis mine): > [@](#): > > Reading the riot act to U.S. allies, Hegseth said that Ukraine will not get all its territory back from Russia and **will not be allowed to join NATO** , which would provide the ultimate security guarantee to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin never attacks it again ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/6 "2025-02-14T16:01:26Z")
I think we said the same thing: > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > - That Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO, then > [@kenobi\_65's quote](#): > > Reading the riot act to U.S. allies, Hegseth said that Ukraine will not get all its territory back from Russia and **will not be allowed to join NATO** ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/7 "2025-02-14T16:02:09Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I think we said the same thing: Apologies, I misread your post. Nothing to see here… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/8 "2025-02-14T16:27:43Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > What could Putin _possibly_ gain from invading another country? Because he’s a megalomaniacal dictator who likes invading places? I don’t buy the 2026 timeline personally he absolutely will invade somewhere else next if he’s allowed to keep his acquisitions in Ukraine. But he has absolutely destroyed the Russian army and it’s equipment in this war, I don’t see it being remote ready for another invasion that soon. But that’s just a detail this is going to happen. This is what Trump wants and it’s what the US people voted for ☹ ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/9 "2025-02-14T17:01:09Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If Russia does attack NATO, that would be the best thing for Ukraine in multiple ways A prerequisite for this would be Ukraine being forced to concede everything the Russians have taken by force (at least), and finish the war. Which is exactly what Trump has said he’ll do (and is doing) After that Putin can heavily fortify the occupied regions and withdraw the majority of troops, lead a few victory parades celebrating the troops and the brave leader who led them to victory over fascism, then start planning the next invasion (probably Baltic states) As I said I don’t think 2026 is realistic as the Russian army f\*cked beyond all recognition by this war, but absolutely before Trump leaves office ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/11 "2025-02-14T17:33:45Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1014334/1): > > As much as I support Ukraine and think Trump is an idiot who will destroy the extremely important NATO alliance, Russia couldn’t invade Bhutan at this point This is why 2026 is unrealistic IMO. But as soon as Trump’s Munich Agreement v2.0 is signed (sorry that’s too harsh on Chamberlain, this is more Molotov-Ribbentrop v2.0) Putin will be building back up his ruined army to the point he can invade somewhere before Trump leaves office. The Baltic states are much smaller than the Ukraine and completely isolated by Russia, so that’s where my money is. Also Bhutan would be just about the hardest place for Putin to invade, no matter how big is army is 😄 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/12 "2025-02-14T17:40:54Z")
I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, but Zelenskyy has a certain Baghdad Bob element to his proclamations. I feel like if it’s going to happen, it’s going to be some years after any sanctions are lifted and Russian industry can rebuild their forces. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/13 "2025-02-14T17:43:59Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I don’t buy the 2026 timeline personally he absolutely will invade somewhere else next if he’s allowed to keep his acquisitions in Ukraine. I guess it comes down to how in the dark he really is about the true state of affairs in the Russian military. It’s been clear to me since the first days of this war that, were he facing a NATO power with no constraints on their military actions, he’d have lost in a very short period of time. Every column he sends into a NATO country will get the Highway of Death treatment. He only got away with as much of Ukraine as he did because no one in NATO wanted to be the first to pull the trigger _directly_ against Russian forces, but if he’s invading them directly, that decision will be made. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/14 "2025-02-14T17:47:47Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, but Zelenskyy has a certain Baghdad Bob element to his proclamations. Given what he’s facing I’m not judging him for being a little bit pessimistic in his predictions. It’s going to happen, just probably a bit later than he says. And saying that is probably more productive than just screaming “what the fuck are you doing, you fucking idiots” over and over which is where I’d be at right now ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/15 "2025-02-14T17:54:22Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Every column he sends into a NATO country will get the Highway of Death treatment. He only got away with as much of Ukraine as he did because no one in NATO wanted to be the first to pull the trigger _directly_ against Russian forces, but if he’s invading them directly, that decision will be made. Without the US? In a tiny Baltic state a completely surrounded by Russian forces. I’m not so sure. With the US the Russian Air Force is smoldering rubble the first day. Without it, it’s not a walkover but it’s not a for-gone conclusion either. The Air Force of the other NATO members (particularly the part able to be deployed overseas) is far far smaller than the US’s. And Russian Air defense is not completely useless even if they have not lived up to their vaunted reputation. The oft repeated factoid is the largest air force in the world is the USAF, the next is the US Navy, and the third is the US marine air corp. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/16 "2025-02-14T18:00:49Z")
Putin and Musk have clearly divided up the world. Russia’s attack on the Balkan states will coincide with America’s attack on Canada and Greenland. Nato will be faced with invasions by two nuclear powers and will have to decide whether to fight or concede. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/17 "2025-02-14T18:07:07Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > What could Putin _possibly_ gain from invading another country? Russia is in demographic and economic collapse, and has essentially no sustainable industries; even their military and petroleum extraction industries which were once the mainstay of Soviet Union are so heavily dependent upon external equipment and expertise that they are revenue negative propositions. While it seems highly unlikely that Russia could effect an actual invasion of any NATO member nation based upon the logistical constraints alone, even Romania, Finland, or Sweden (much less one with a large and robust military such as Poland), Putin might see it as necessary to put up a show of Russian ‘strength’ for his domestic audience, and then back it up with nuclear saber-rattling in an attempt to gain some concessions and declare a moral victory. It isn’t rational for the long term viability of Russia, but then Putin gives fuck all about a Russia after his demise, and regardless of what he does Russia will not exist in the nation as currently constituted in the next two or three decades. > [@Velocity](#): > > If Russia does attack NATO, that would be the best thing for Ukraine in multiple ways. Zelensky should be hoping hard that this happens. It would stretch Russia’s forces much thinner, divert forces away from Ukraine, and get a whole lot of nations involved, even if the US stays out. Well, that is the optimistic view. I think the realist view is more along the lines of escalation to nuclear posturing and potentially even using a non-NATO Ukraine for target practice _pour encourager les autres_, especially if he can obtain assurances from Hegseth and Trump that there will be no American retaliation (and confidence that Europe’s two nuclear powers, France and Great Britain, will not respond as long as they are not directly threatened). That this would be insanely destabilizing and unthinkable in prior eras is no longer a constraint where Russia is facing collapse and deconsolidation, and Putin’s media mouthpiece Dmitry Kiselyov has literally said, [“Why do we need a world if Russia is not in it?”](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/28/why-do-we-need-a-world-if-russia-is-not-in-it-state-tv-presenter-opens-show-with-ominous-address-a76653) in a context widely interpreted as a thinly veiled threat of unilateral nuclear escalation. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/18 "2025-02-14T18:08:22Z")
Sad to say, I wouldn’t be shocked to hear that Trump’s strategy is “we take the Western Hemisphere\*, Russia and China wrestle over the Eastern Hemisphere.” \*This already stated doctrine in this administration. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/19 "2025-02-14T18:12:28Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Sad to say, I wouldn’t be shocked to hear that Trump’s strategy is “we take the Western Hemisphere\*, Russia and China wrestle over the Eastern Hemisphere.” It seems clear that a Russian/American axis has been formed. How the democracies respond to the threat will be the challenge of the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/20 "2025-02-14T18:20:07Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility, but Zelenskyy has a certain Baghdad Bob element to his proclamations. Huh? No he doesn’t. At all. Baghdad Bob was just flat out lying in the most absurd way, anmd in the direction of optimism. Zelenskyy is say8ng absolutely plausible things that people should be worried aboout. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313/22 "2025-02-14T18:25:30Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > even their military and petroleum extraction industries which were once the mainstay of Soviet Union are so heavily dependent upon external equipment and expertise that they are revenue negative propositions. Ah yes, the Peter Zeihan prediction that Russians couldn’t possibly figure out how to get oil out of the ground. Zeihan has been so wrong about so many things now that it’s almost funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zelenskyy-russia-plans-to-attack-nato-in-2026/1014313.md?page=2)