A ceasefire in Ukraine could strengthen the Russian threat to NATO's eastern flank, warns Wolfgang Ischinger.

The President of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, stated that the Russian threat to NATO's eastern flank could intensify with a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

He explained that, currently, Ukraine acts as a "shield of Europe," blocking the advance of the Russian army and suffering significant losses. Once the ceasefire is established, Putin could renew his forces, thereby increasing the risks for NATO countries. Ischinger emphasized that, although it is essential to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine, a ceasefire without a reduction of Russian military buildup in the west should not lead to relaxation. He highlighted that the fate of the war in Ukraine is crucial for Germany and Europe, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the security conference, which will discuss these issues.