Russia's parliament passed legislation allowing President Putin to authorize military operations in foreign countries, with Putin having 14 days to sign the bill into law. European intelligence agencies labeled Russia as a direct threat to NATO in 2026. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned in April 2026 that Baltic countries might become Moscow's next target without sufficient support for Ukraine.
Russian foreign invasion bill
- ▪Russia's State Duma passed a bill in its second and third readings on May 13, 2026 allowing the president to deploy Armed Forces formations abroad to protect Russian citizens facing arrest, detention, or criminal or other prosecution by courts of foreign states or by international judicial bodies whose jurisdiction is not based on a treaty with Russia or a UN Security Council resolution. The Federation Council approved it on May 20 and Putin signed it into law on May 25, 2026
- ▪The Russian Parliament passed a bill allowing Putin to invade foreign countries
European security concerns
- ▪Various European intelligence agencies labeled Russia as a direct threat to the West and to NATO in 2026
- ▪EU defense officials and lawmakers fear that the Kremlin could view the next year or two as the ideal time to test the West's commitment to the military alliance
- ▪Three EU politicians with direct knowledge of the discussions stated that the window for Russia to test the West will remain as long as Donald Trump is in the White House and Europe has yet to reinforce its military capacity
Ukraine invasion justification
- ▪The Kremlin claimed Kyiv had been abusing the rights of Russian-speaking Ukrainians for years
- ▪Moscow partly justified its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the need to protect Russian-speaking Ukrainians, whom Moscow considers compatriots
- ▪The Kremlin is demanding the reinstatement of the Russian language and the Russian church at the state level in Ukraine as a part of any peace agreement
Baltic states threat warning
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in April 2026 that the Baltic countries might become Moscow's next target if Ukraine doesn't get enough support
- ▪Estonia dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskyy's warning that the Baltic countries might become Moscow's next target
Perspective of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in April 2026 that the Baltic countries might become Moscow's next target if Ukraine doesn't get enough support
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