Kremlin: Russia Will Not End War in Ukraine Until NATO Leaves Baltics

Russia will not end its war on Ukraine until nato nations withdraw their troops from the Baltic nations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state media on Monday.

Baltics on edge: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania comprise the Baltic region to the west of Russia’s border.

• In the 1940s, these three nations were forcibly absorbed into the Russia-led Soviet Union.
• In 1990, as the Soviet Union was weakening, they reasserted their independence.
• In 2004, they joined nato and the European Union.

Having suffered terribly under Soviet power, they are among the most pro-nato, anti-Russia nations on Earth. Each Baltic country hosts a nato multinational battle group, and they are working on a joint project, the Baltic Defense Line, to fortify their borders against Russian expansion.

Soviet dream: In 2008, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry drew attention to Russia’s invasion of the former Soviet nation of Georgia, calling it the “first military strike of a rising Asian superpower.” He warned: “There will be more!”

Since then, Russia has pushed against other former Soviet countries, asserting greater control over Moldova, orchestrating a soft coup of Belarus, and in 2022, initiating a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

These acts of aggression prove that Mr. Flurry was right: The war against Georgia in 2008 was not a one-off.

Ryabkov’s statement shows that Russia’s ambitions likely extend into the Baltics as well.

What’s ahead: Putin’s Russia is reshaping the geopolitical landscape in its drive to rebuild as much of the Soviet empire as possible. Bible prophecy warns that it will see success in these efforts.

To learn more, read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Russia’s Return to Superpower Status.”