Lithuania's Nauseda says Putin will keep testing NATO, sees no talks before spring

"I don't think Russia is currently ready for large-scale operations," Nauseda said, according to the interview. "Russia's resources are tied up on the Ukrainian battlefield, and Russia is not succeeding there." He added that "Putin is testing us and moving ever closer to Article 5, NATO's collective defense commitment."

Nauseda said Russia wants to observe how the alliance responds to so-called hybrid attacks, which are suspected to have included drone incursions, cyberattacks and arson. He said the hybrid war will continue, not only on NATO's eastern flank but also in Germany, Denmark and other countries, testing "how determined we are and whether we will respond collectively when certain red lines are crossed."

Nauseda, an economist who has led Lithuania since 2019, also said he sees no serious willingness in Moscow to enter negotiations to end its war against Ukraine before next spring. He 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. I don't trust them," he said.

He said Putin will make demands unacceptable to Ukraine from the outset, and that if Ukraine gets through the winter, the chances of serious talks will improve in 2027. "I don't expect them any earlier," he said.