Breaking News: Former CIA Director Warns of Putin's Escalation Threats in Europe

In a stark warning to the international community, General David Petraeus, a former CIA director and top US Army general, has emphasized the urgency of Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to invade the Baltics and potentially instigate a new war in Europe.

Speaking to The Sun, Petraeus, who served nearly four decades in the US military and commanded Allied Forces in Iraq, expressed grave concerns that Putin "won't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine." He stressed that Ukraine's allies in the West must intensify their efforts to help Ukraine win the war against Russia.

This week, Putin announced plans to equip his allies with long-range missiles in retaliation to the West's provision of weapons to Ukraine. Petraeus highlighted the Russian dictator's clear intentions of expanding the conflict beyond Ukraine, stating, "The Ukraine war could expand in the region if Putin succeeds in Ukraine. He wouldn't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine. Moldova clearly would be next. After that, it might be Lithuania or one of the other Baltic states."

The former CIA chief urged the world to heed Putin's threats, asserting, "He's been very clear and I think it's also clear in hindsight that we should listen to this individual. He tells us what he believes."

To counter Putin's ambitions, Petraeus called for the West to do "everything humanly possible" to support Ukraine. He also stressed the importance of Ukraine advancing its technological capabilities in the face of Russia's extensive military power.

"Ukraine has to do more to enable itself and is finally doing that... it needs to crank it into a higher gear to generate more replacement soldiers and also additional units," Petraeus said. He praised Ukraine's innovative use of drones in the Black Sea, which have significantly impacted the Russian fleet.

However, Petraeus warned of Russia's continued military build-up and its substantial advantages in population and economy. "Russia is generating considerable additional forces, has a population far more than three times that of Ukraine, has ten times the economy and some other advantages. The reality is a difficult one and yet another reason why we should be doing all that we can to help Ukraine in every possible way."

The international community now faces a critical juncture, as Petraeus's warning underscores the need for decisive action to prevent further escalation and ensure stability in Europe.