Stronger NATO will stand up to Russia’s imperial ambitions — Sikorski

His comments came after talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul failed to produce a ceasefire deal, on account of Moscow repeating its demands for even more Ukrainian territory.

“NATO was created to contain Russia,” Sikorski wrote in a Twitter post.

“Then we spent more than 20 years trying to Europeanize Russia. Now Russia has decided to abandon that effort and try to rebuild its empire. We will not allow it. By the end of this decade, we will be stronger, and Russia will face a terrible hangover.”

Sikorski previously assessed that Russia currently cannot launch an attack on a NATO country because its military is busy fighting in Ukraine, although preparations must be made for further Russian aggression by 2030.

On May 8, Vice Adm. Peter Reesink, director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), told Politico that the Netherlands is preparing for a potential armed conflict with Russia, adding that Russia could rebuild its military within a year after the war in Ukraine ends.