Lithuania's President Nauseda Warns Putin's Provocations Will Continue, Says He Does Not Trust Moscow

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin's provocations to continue. In an interview he said, 'I don't trust them.'

According to Nauseda, a conventional large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory is unlikely for now. He said Russia is not currently ready for large-scale operations because its resources are tied up on the Ukrainian battlefield, and Russia is not succeeding there.

But Putin is testing the alliance and moving ever closer to Article 5, NATO's collective defence commitment, Nauseda added.

In his words, through suspected hybrid attacks including drone incursions, cyberattacks and arson, the Russians want to observe how the alliance responds.

Nauseda said the hybrid war will therefore continue not only on NATO's eastern flank but also in Germany, Denmark and other countries. Russia is testing how determined the allies are and whether they will respond collectively when certain red lines are crossed, he explained.

He also expressed doubt about any serious willingness in Moscow to enter negotiations to end its war against Ukraine. In his view, no such willingness will be seen before next spring.

Nauseda said Moscow will use the winter months to keep up pressure on Ukraine through air strikes on cities. 'The Russians will only pretend to negotiate,' he said.

Putin will make demands that are unacceptable to Ukraine from the outset, he added. Nauseda said if Ukraine gets through this winter — and he is convinced it will — the chances of serious talks will improve in 2027, and he does not expect them any earlier.

Nauseda, an economist, has led Lithuania since 2019. He gave the interview to WELT, which, like POLITICO, is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network.