Analysts warn there could be a Russian attack on a NATO member state

“If that’s not a wake up call I don’t know what is.”

NATO should “start negotiations” with Russia before it’s too late, as analysts believe there could be a Russian attack on a NATO state “in the next seven years”, former BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith tells #TimesRadio.

[taqiyasir]

All the Eastern European countries that joined NATO joined willingly because they knew how aggressive russia can be. Also no promise was made to the russians that NATO would not be expanded.

[viviannization]

Independent countries have a right to seek protection against a hostile neighbor.

[franceyneireland]

According to George Robertson who was head of NATO from 1999-2003. Putin asked Robertson in 2000 “When are you going to invite us to join NATO?’ Robertson replied: “ We don’t invite people to join NATO, they have to apply to join NATO.” Putin replied, ‘Well, we’re not standing in line with a lot of countries that don’t matter.’” This has been backed up during an interview on BBC by David Frost with Putin.

[chadbrownlee]

This guy conviently forgets that all those former Eastern block nations practically begged to become part of NATO, because they knew first hand about Russian imperialist aggression.

He has such a bad take on the situation that's pretty much " let's appease the tyrant and hope he goes away " attitude.

[Forest_Knight]

‼Pay attention to his intellectual slight of hand. While denying being a putin apologist, he weaves in little comments that are designed to subconsciously make you sympathise with the russian narrative. Just one example, 1) Putin accuses Lithuania [ooh bad putin] of denying civil rights to those who don't speak Lithuanian [oh wait Lithuania is bad too]; 2) "speaking fluent Lithuanian is pretty hard for anybody to do" [of course, how can those poor russians be expected to learn it?]. Well it's not for someone who tries to learn it, especially after living in Lithuania for 25 years.
Some politicians and journalists use this method, beware of it!

[leftfootforward]

This man lost me on, start trying to negotiate now....No you dont negotiate and appease a tyrannical dictator who is already on a war path. You put him down.

[Longball]

Negotiation with Putin. Okay, Neville. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[marcelzentner]

It really baffles me that someone intelligent like Mr Sixsmiths cannot see, or sufficently appreciate, that Russia is not ruled by ordinary politicians, but by a small gang of gangsters. What good would it have done to try to "understand" Al Capone and take his "security interests" seriously?

[barrygropp]

Gorbachev said there was never an agreement about countries joining NATO. Russia has broken every agreement they have ever signed including with neutral Ukraine. This guy is a russian apologist.

[charlesasch]

Lol does he really think Russia would just be nice to Latvia if it wasn’t in NATo

[douglasinglesepertutti]

Say what you like but it was Russia that invaded Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the 50s. Nato certainly didn't invade anyone.
My father was an artillery officer in BAOR Germany at that time and many of their exercises were based on resisting a Russian invasion of western Europe along the fast autobahns because entire Russian tank regiments were already lined up along them ready to go.

[KosmicKitchen]

Prior to 2022, NATO would not have accepted Ukraine (out of geopolitical considerations). Now it is a different matter. Russia is materialising its own security paranoia.

[juliec]

Thing is if you're a sh.tty neighbor you can't be surprised by your neighbors looking for security elsewhere.

[k.sullivan]

I agree that listening and trying to understand what an opposing/enemy country wants is a very good idea (approximately 2:45 into the interview), however I want to point out that Ukraine gave up it's Nuclear Arms in exchange for it's independence and security. Then Russia invaded them.

[jdkennedy]

Times Radio, why are you giving air to a Putin apologist?

[aaronfaunch]

This guy is saying we should listen to Russian concerns and negotiate to avoid direct conflict with NATO. He doesn't seem to consider that directly challenging article 5 is exactly what Putin wants as he doesn't believe the US, UK etc. Will risk nuclear war to defend the Baltic states.

The interviewee talks about Russia wanting guarantees that Ukraine would not join NATO, ignoring the fact that the occupation of Crimea meant Ukraine was incapable of meeting the criteria of joining.

He talks about the 'not one inch east' myth one moment, then mentions how Russia had at one point considered during NATO itself. What an inconsistency. How can Russians feel they could join NATO but also believe the one inch myth. Last time I checked, Russia is as east as you can get in Europe.

[melonhusk]

What a disgusting imperialist view. Complete disregard for the sovereign decisions of eastern european countries.

[PopulismIsForBottomFeeders]

Is this an interview with Martin Sixsmith?? With all this appeasement talk, I could swear that's Neville Chamberlain...

[evaluateanalysis]

13:06 "unless they speak fluent Lithuanian, which is pretty hard for anyone to do." If you claim to be a citizen who has lived in a country all your life, being expected to make the effort to learn the national language seems reasonable. Not doing so leads to separate communities and all the problems that brings.

[edvinssnore]

3:33 He repeats Putin’s excuse that if Ukraine joins NATO rockets could reach Moscow in 5 minutes. Well, if Finland joins NATO (as it did) rockets will reach StPetersbug in 20 seconds. According to this man’s logic Putin should invade Finland now. Finns clearly had some other logic.