Germany’s spy chief: We are in ‘direct conflict with Russia’

In six years, Russia will be capable of attacking countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the head of Germany’s chief of foreign intelligence told the Bundestag’s parliamentary control committee, according to n-tv.

“By the end of this decade at the latest, Russian troops will be able to attack NATO,” Bruno Kahl said.

In financial terms, Germany is the second-largest supporter of Ukraine since February 2022 when Russia launched an unrepentant full-scale invasion. Kahl furthermore said the Kremlin perceives Germany as an enemy.

“We are in direct conflict with Russia,” the intelligence chief said.

Putin seeks to establish a “new world order,” and Russian intelligence services are increasingly employing all available methods “without any scruples.”

Politicians must provide German security services with the means and authority to deter all potential threats from Russia, Kahl said in the parliamentary hearings. 

“Further escalation of the situation is not unlikely,” he continued.

In April, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Germany must become more resilient to Russian disinformation.

Last November, the German Council on Foreign Relations, citing the analytical Center for Security and Defense, reported that NATO has five to nine years to prepare for a potential Russian attack. Analysts indicated that an attack from the Kremlin could occur within the next six years if the war in Ukraine is frozen.