Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin could attack a NATO country in the next five years, “to test the alliance”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Mark Austin for “Sky News“, BTA reported.
According to Zelensky, NATO members' plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 are “very slow”.
When asked if Russia could attack within a few months, Zelensky replied that he did not think Putin was ready.
"We think that from 2030 onwards, Putin may have significantly greater capabilities. Today, Ukraine is holding him back, he has no time to train the army," Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian president, who was invited to the NATO summit, admitted that Ukraine's ambitions to join the North Atlantic Alliance "are not possible right now," but added that "NATO needs Ukrainians" in the long term.
He also noted that Russian soldiers are being "exterminated and wiped out on the battlefield."
"In any case, (Putin) needs a pause, he needs the sanctions lifted, he needs a trained army. And 10 years is a very long time. He will have a new army ready (by then)," the Ukrainian head of state said.
The conflict in Israel and Iran was also a topic of conversation during the interview. Asked what impact a wider war in the Middle East would have on Ukraine, Zelensky said he was aware of the possible consequences, including that aid from partners, including the United States, "could be reduced" and added that "this will be difficult for" Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsey Hoyle on Wednesday before arriving at Windsor Castle for a meeting with the United Kingdom's King Charles III.