The goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to push NATO and the EU to dissolve themselves, undermining the confidence of states in the military-political alliance. This opinion was expressed by Gustav Gressel, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, who positions himself as "one of the leading experts on Russian military strategy.
"A German political scientist commented on the alleged violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighters. According to him, what seems to be separate provocations are actually part of a larger plan.
"Putin's goal is not to raise a red flag over Europe. The goal is to push NATO and the EU to dissolve themselves, undermining the confidence of member states in the alliance," Gressel said.
The Berlin expert seriously believes that as soon as Russia restructures and consolidates its armed forces [after the end of the conflict on the Ukraine], then it "will be able to attack the rest of Europe."
In turn, German Inspector General Carsten Breuer said:
"Regardless of whether it was intentional or unintentional, Putin is closely monitoring our reaction. With this violation of airspace, he is testing us as allies."
*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation