KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could launch an attack on a NATO member within five years, arguing that Western allies must accelerate their defense spending plans to deter future aggression from the Kremlin.
In a televised interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin might attempt to test the unity of the NATO alliance by striking one of its members within the next several years.
“If Putin wins in Ukraine, he won’t stop there,” Zelenskyy said. “He needs a pause to rebuild, and then he could target a NATO country to test the alliance. That could happen within five years.”
Zelenskyy criticized NATO’s recently proposed plan for members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, calling the timeline “very slow” and potentially dangerous given Russia’s growing military ambitions.
“We believe that, starting from 2030, Putin can have significantly greater capabilities,” Zelenskyy warned. “Right now, Ukraine is holding him back. But if we lose, or the West slows its support, he will use that time to drill and rebuild his army.”
The 5% goal, to be formally discussed this week in The Hague, includes 3.5% for traditional military defense and 1.5% for related areas, including infrastructure and cybersecurity. The benchmark mirrors Cold War-era military investment levels across the alliance.
When asked whether Putin might act within months, Zelenskyy said he does not believe the Russian leader is “ready” at this moment, citing massive Russian battlefield losses in Ukraine.
“His army is getting annihilated. He’s not ready right now. But give him 10 years, and he will be,” Zelenskyy cautioned. “He needs a pause, he needs sanctions lifted, and he needs time to prepare a new army.”
The remarks come as NATO members gather in The Hague for a summit expected to focus on security spending, strategic posture, and long-term deterrence amid rising global threats. Western leaders have long feared that a Russian victory in Ukraine would embolden Moscow and test NATO’s Article 5 collective defense clause.
Zelenskyy continues to urge NATO nations to increase support for Ukraine as a frontline state defending Europe’s eastern flank.
“The faster you act now, the less you’ll have to fight later,” he said.
