'Russia preparing for war on Nato by 2029': Germany warns as Trump pushes Ukraine plan

Amid ongoing talks on a possible peace deal, Germany has warned that Russia may be preparing for the option of waging war on Nato by 2029, even as Washington attempts to shape a revised agreement to end Europe’s largest conflict since the Second World War.

The renewed US push has raised hopes for a breakthrough but also triggered criticism that elements of the initial proposal echoed key Kremlin demands. However, the latest version of the draft plan to end the war in Ukraine is “significantly better” for Kyiv than the original US proposal, a senior official familiar with the talks noted.

Berlin issues sharp warning as US and Ukraine refine peace proposal

In a series of posts on X, the German Foreign Office cautioned that Russia’s long-term intentions extend well beyond Ukraine. “Putin eyes the #EU and #NATO. Our intelligence services are issuing urgent warnings: at the very least, Russia is creating the option for itself to wage war against NATO by 2029. We have to deter further Russian aggression, together with our partners and allies,” it said.

Reiterating the message in a second post, it added that Germany “wants & needs to assume responsibility in foreign & security policy."

Berlin also insisted that “the current front line must remain the basis for all negotiations. Russia, which chooses day after day to continue its unprovoked attack on its neighbour, must not be rewarded for its aggression.”
A final post stressed, “#Ukraine wants peace. We all want peace. But whether this desire is fulfilled – whether there will at least be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step – depends wholly on the aggressor, #Russia.”

The warning came as Kyiv confirmed progress in its discussions with Washington. A day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed amendments to the peace plan, Ukraine said it had “reached an understanding” with the US on the reworked proposal. The plan forms part of President Donald Trump’s original 28-point framework, which US and Ukrainian officials spent the weekend reviewing to better reflect Ukraine’s interests.

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff confirmed that US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected in Kyiv later this week, with discussions on the new draft still underway. However, Russia has voiced concern, saying the Kremlin has not yet been consulted on the amended plan and warning that it may not accept changes to last week’s version.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that although Moscow had supported the initial US outline, significant alterations would be viewed as a “fundamentally different” situation. He accused European governments of undermining US efforts, while Washington has yet to address Russia’s objections publicly. US and Russian representatives held talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.

Russian strikes continue as diplomacy intensifies

Despite diplomatic manoeuvring, fighting on the ground continued. On Tuesday night, a major Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia damaged at least seven high rise buildings and left 12 people hospitalised, according to the regional military administration.

The previous night, Kyiv was shaken by explosions beginning at around 1:00 am local time as drones and missiles struck residential areas. City officials reported seven deaths, with fires breaking out in apartment blocks. Thick smoke, glowing red and orange in the blaze of Ukrainian air defence systems, rose above the capital as residents sought shelter in metro stations, AFP journalists reported.

The war, triggered by Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022, shows no sign of easing even as diplomatic efforts intensify on multiple fronts.