Zelensky warns Putin’s eyeing FIVE other European countries for invasion if he isn’t stopped dead in Ukraine

Zelensky warns Putin’s eyeing FIVE other European countries for invasion if he isn’t stopped dead in Ukraine
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Zelensky warns Putin’s eyeing FIVE other European countries for invasion if he isn’t stopped dead in Ukraine
Author: James Halpin
Published: Feb, 24 2025 17:43

VOLODYMYR Zelensky has warned that Vladimir Putin is eyeing five other European countries for invasion. The Ukrainian has suggested at a press conference marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion that if despot Vlad isn't stopped five European nations will be on his mind.

 [Vladimir Putin at a military ceremony.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Vladimir Putin at a military ceremony.]

In particular, the five countries Zelensky has warned about are Eastern European states that all have "Russian roots", Russian populations, or were part of the Soviet Union or its sphere. He said Putin could use those populations as a pretext for invasion - like he had with Crimea.

 [Russian soldiers in uniform holding rifles during a military parade.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Russian soldiers in uniform holding rifles during a military parade.]

Zelensky named Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova as those nations potentially being eyed by the Russian. He said: "When you have Russian speaking people, or their roots, or their families… it's our history… then you are at risk. "At the very beginning, they said that they are not occupying our territories… that they are defending Russian-speaking people.

 [Volodymyr Zelenskyy with European leaders at a ceremony.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Volodymyr Zelenskyy with European leaders at a ceremony.]

"If we will fall down… I think all such countries who I mentioned have this risk because of Russian policy, because their view of the Russian world.". Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, and parts of Poland were all within the Russian Empire - while Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova were in the Soviet Union.

 [Illustration of a map showing potential targets of a Russian invasion.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Illustration of a map showing potential targets of a Russian invasion.]

Slovakia, meanwhile, was a communist country in the Warsaw Pact and its people are ethnically Slavic like Russians. Russia has long seen itself as the protector of Slavic peoples - while Putin has explicitly said he wants to rebuild the Russian Empire.

 [Ukrainian serviceman standing amidst destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Ukrainian serviceman standing amidst destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha.]

Ukraine now has the largest and most experience army in Europe with a million troops under arms. As of September, Putin ordered the size of the Russian armed forces to be expanded to 2.4million people it is currently thought to be around 1.5million. But, what could hamper any potential Russian invasion of a European nation is four of the five countries Putin mentioned are in Nato while the other, Moldova, has defence deals with the EU.

 [Ukrainian service members stand amidst the wreckage of a destroyed Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Ukrainian service members stand amidst the wreckage of a destroyed Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane.]

Secondly, Putin's army has had tens of thousands of tanks and armoured vehicles destroyed by Ukraine. The country has also pioneered the use of drone technology. Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova would all be able to learn from Ukraine and stand up to a much larger force.

 [Illustration of Russian military losses in Ukraine, showing 860,000 soldiers, 21,000 armored vehicles, 10,000 tanks, 26,000 drones, 28 ships and boats, 370 planes, and 331 helicopters.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Illustration of Russian military losses in Ukraine, showing 860,000 soldiers, 21,000 armored vehicles, 10,000 tanks, 26,000 drones, 28 ships and boats, 370 planes, and 331 helicopters.]

Zelensky's comments come during a meeting with world leaders on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of his country. Some 30 have even gone to Kyiv, like EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and even Boris Johnson.

 [Russian Armed Forces helicopters striking a military airfield.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Russian Armed Forces helicopters striking a military airfield.]

Zelensky said: "Nobody in the world believes the Russian lies about our country and our people, even those who became Russia's ally. "Russia's strategic target is Europe, the European way of life and the future of Europe. "And the future of Europe cannot be decided without Europe.".

 [Video screengrab of military vehicles crossing into Ukraine.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Video screengrab of military vehicles crossing into Ukraine.]

Trudeau addressed President Zelensky, praising his remarkable personal bravery, resilience, and resolve. He said: "You continue to inspire me and tens of millions of my fellow citizens back home in Canada.". Sir Keir Starmer has, meanwhile, announced a tranche of new sanction against Russia's elite as he wants to force Putin into making concessions during peace negotiations.

 [Ukrainian soldiers firing a Javelin missile during military exercises.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Ukrainian soldiers firing a Javelin missile during military exercises.]

Zelensky hailed Ukrainians for their "bravery and sacrifice" in an emotional video tribute to his nation on Monday morning. The valiant leader shared a patriotic clip of his courageous soldiers fighting the invading Russians and civilians pulling together to mark the third anniversary of the invasion.

 [Estonian and Russian flags flying over a stone wall.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Estonian and Russian flags flying over a stone wall.]

Set to stirring music, Zelensky shared footage of fearless Ukrainian troops fighting over the course of the three years and thanked them. The clip also shows civilians protesting against Russia, doctors in surgery, and firefighters in bombed-out buildings.

 [(FILES) A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut on November 8, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Bulent KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)]
Image Credit: The Sun [(FILES) A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut on November 8, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Bulent KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)]

Zelensky's touching clip comes after he said he would step down as his country's leader in exchange for peace or Nato membership. US President Donald Trump slammed Zelensky for being a "dictator" and that he wasn't important enough to attend peace negotiations.

 [Ukrainian soldiers firing a howitzer.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Ukrainian soldiers firing a howitzer.]

The hard-nosed negotiating strategy has thrown Europe into crisis as the continent realises it can't rely on the US to defend it from Russia. Trump has demanded £400bn for "equalisation", the US Congress thinks the US has only backed Ukraine with up to £137bn.

 [Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with European leaders.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with European leaders.]

The dispute over the deal has led to a feud between the leaders with Trump slamming Zelensky as a "dictator" and sidelined him by starting peace discussions with Russia. Trump also said the leader of Ukraine was "not very important" to be in meetings about peace - despite Ukraine having been invaded.

Zelensky shouted at Trump's envoy in a blast so furious it left the official trembling and could be heard through a door, a report claims. An "angry" Zelensky blasted US treasury secretary Scott Bessent in a closed-door meeting about the deal in Kyiv on February 12, the Financial Times reports.

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