PUTIN has made Nato stronger than ever – however Ukraine joining risks sparking all-out warfare, a former Nato Secretary General has warned.

On Nato’s seventy fifth birthday, Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo warned: “There’s always the danger of another world war.”

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Since it emerged from the ashes of World War Two in 1949 with 12 members, Nato has bolstered its forces throughout jap Europe and grown to 32 members after Finland and Sweden joined its ranks.

And Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 re-invigorated the alliance because it was pressured to confront one probably the most critical conflicts within the West since its formation.

Nato nations are dealing with the massive problem of constructing certain Ukraine – which is bidding to hitch – does not lose its combat to push again Putin’s forces.

But Nato stands stronger with a GDP 20 instances better than Russia’s and three.2million army personnel – in comparison with Russia’s 1.2million.

In complete, the alliance additionally has 4 instances as many tanks, thrice as many fighter aircrafts and 16 plane carriers in comparison with Putin’s one.

And Nato members have thrown their weight behind Kyiv by sending weapons price tens of billions of {dollars}.

Putin mentioned he declared warfare on Ukraine – partly – as a result of Nato was increasing nearer to Russia’s borders.

But Minuto-Rizzo – Nato’s Deputy Secretary General from 2001 to 2007 – mentioned the Russian tyrant has failed in his objective to weaken the alliance.

Instead, the warfare has labored to bolster Nato’s energy, the 83-year-old mentioned.

He instructed The Sun: “The Russian aggression in Ukraine was intended to fight back [against] Nato, in a way.

“But it was the other… since you see that Finland and Sweden – who had no intention to hitch in Nato earlier than – grew to become Nato members.

“The war has reinforced Nato. It is a paradox… but this is what has happened.”

Nato’s GDP is 20 instances better than Russia with 3.2million army personnel – in comparison with Russia’s measly 1.2million.

In complete, the alliance additionally has 4 instances as many tanks, thrice as many fighter aircrafts and 16 plane carriers in comparison with Putin’s one.

But Minuto-Rizzo mentioned Ukraine joining Nato would have “dangerous” penalties – and believes Kyiv would be higher protected with out being a member of the alliance.

Several Eastern European nations, together with Poland and the Baltic states, imagine extending Nato membership to Ukraine would be the simplest strategy to cease Putin.

Other Nato officers warned it is too quickly whereas the nation is combating a warfare in opposition to Russia.

If you might have Nato sending troops into Ukraine, it should change the course of the warfare

Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo

Minuto-Rizzo mentioned: “I’m not sure that to enlarge Nato with Ukraine is the best response.

“There are some ways in which you’ll be able to shield and assure these nations when the warfare is completed… with out turning into members of Nato.

“There is no need at all to have Ukraine as a Nato member. I’m not sure that it will support the strength of the alliance – and also because it is controversial.

“And it is not essentially the most effective factor to do to guard them. 

“If Ukraine becomes a Nato member, then immediately you change the character of the war – it will be a war of Russia against Nato countries.

“So that will probably be new, completely different, harmful.”

As the Western military alliance turns 75 on Thursday, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg proposed a $108-billion five-year fund in a bid to ensure long-term support for Kyiv.

He is also pushing to get Nato more directly involved in coordinating deliveries – something the alliance has so far refused to over fears it could drag the alliance closer to war with Russia.

But Minuto-Rizzo warned against Nato getting involved in the war at a larger scale.

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He mentioned: “The logic is to defend Ukraine on the most, to assist Ukraine economically… however on the identical time with out aggression in Russia.

“There is a defence, but not offence. If you have Nato sending troops into Ukraine, it will change the course of the war.

“And there is no such thing as a want for that. The neatest thing to do is to assist the Ukrainians to combat for their very own nation.

“If you send Nato troops to Ukraine, you only encourage the Russians to upgrade their war.

“And there’s at all times the hazard of one other world warfare. I do not assume it should occur, however you by no means know. So it’s higher to be away from the principles.”

Putin recently said a Russia-Nato conflict would be just one step from World War Three.

And on Thursday, the Kremlin said Russia and Nato are now in “direct confrontation”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “In truth, relations have now slipped to the extent of direct confrontation.”

NATO was “already concerned within the battle surrounding Ukraine (and) continues to maneuver in direction of our borders and develop its army infrastructure in direction of our borders”, he said.

Minuto-Rizzo warned that talk of all-out war is “very harmful”.

He urged world leaders to stop discussing the possibility of nuclear war – as it could spark a “silly” move.

“I would relax the declarations as a result of it is vitally harmful to discuss the warfare,” he said.

“If you proceed to discuss this, maybe, effectively, then you already know that any individual will make a silly transfer. And this would be a catastrophe for everyone.”

The best thing to do is to support the Ukrainians to fight for their own country

Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo

Despite Putin’s threats, Minuto-Rizzo doesn’t believe the tyrant will attack any Nato countries.

“Russia isn’t so highly effective as it could look,” he said.

“After all, Russia has a GDP much less than Italy. They are very sturdy from a army standpoint, nevertheless it’s not a superpower just like the Soviet Union was.

“I don’t see why they would attack western Europe and Nato countries. I can’t understand why Russia would invade Romania or Poland for instance.

“That would be a giant mistake. I do not assume it should occur.”

On Putin’s future, Minuto-Rizzo said the tyrant is “most likely extra able to making a compromise than others in Russia”.

“The chance can also be that if Putin goes away, there will probably be individuals worse than him,” he said.

“There are individuals in Russia who are extra nationalistic than him.

“I think that if he goes away, he’s not necessarily a perfect thing for us.

“He might be extra able to making a compromise than others in Russia.”

On Thursday, a ceremony will happen to mark the day that Nato’s founding treaty was signed – April 4, 1949, in Washington.

A much bigger celebration is deliberate for when Nato leaders meet in Washington from July 9 to 11.