Russian president Vladimir Putin could launch war on West within two years, leaked German files warn
Vladimir Putin could launch a full-scale attack on the West in two years’ time, a leaked German intelligence dossier has warned.
The Russian president, who is set to be granted an additional six year term on Sunday, is said to have grand ambitions for future foreign police, according to The Sun.
Mr Putin will very likely take a landslide victory in the election to continue the rule that has lasted since 1999 and makes him Russia’s longest standing leader in more than 200 years.
The election comes just over two years since Mr Putin triggered the deadliest European conflict since the Second World War by ordering the invasion of Ukraine.
While the campaign rumbles on, with Mr Putin reportedly keen on a truce, the president has his sights on grander ambitions, according to the dossier.
The classified report is said to suggest that Russia is preparing for a large-scale conflict with the West by 2026.
"... analysis by German intelligence services is currently circulating in the German government,” the dossier is said to say.
"According to this, a significant intensification of Russian arms production is being observed, which could lead to Russia doubling its military power in the next five years compared to today, especially in conventional weapons."
The Sun has said the report has not been made public but if the details are true they would not be inconsistent with Mr Putin’s previous shows of bravado.
In February, Senior Nato analysts advised the Supreme Commander of the alliance, he is already carrying out a 10-year offensive to expand Russia’s power across Europe.
“We may already be in year two of the plan, starting with the invasion of Ukraine two years ago,” a senior officer close to the group explained.
There have also been calls for Britain and its allies to increase military spending to try and deter the threat of any Russian hostility.
Cabinet minister Tom Tugendhat has insisted that military spending must rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP “now”.
In the immediate term, Mr Putin, 71, has warned the West that any meddling in the vote will be considered an act of aggression.
While his re-election is not in doubt given a lack of any significant rival candidate he wants to show that he has the overwhelming support of Russians.
The Kremlin has sought a high turnout and as polls opened for a third day in western Russia.
Supporters of Alexei Navalny, who died in unexplained circumstances at an Arctic prison last month, have called on Russians to come out at a "Noon against Putin" protest to show their dissent against a leader they cast as a corrupt autocrat.
"Today we want to say to all of us - noon is the very beginning," the "Noon Against Putin" initiative wrote on their Telegram early Sunday.
"Yes, some of us are scared. Yes, the choice is not easy. But we are the people. And we will cope with both the choice and the responsibility."