Western officials fear Putin is preparing to escalate beyond Ukraine. Bild and The Telegraph outline possible Russian moves against NATO.

Western officials express concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing to escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine, potentially targeting NATO countries. Sources close to the Kremlin suggest Putin envisions weakening both NATO and the European Union from within. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns that the next seven to eight months could determine the security of Ukraine and the broader European region.

The potential scenarios include underwater attacks targeting critical infrastructure, a repeat of the 2014 Crimea "little green men" covert operation in Estonia, seizing control of the Baltic Sea's Gotland island, and a surprise attack on the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. The most vulnerable point is the Suwałki corridor between Poland and Lithuania, which could become the site of a direct clash between Russia and NATO.