NYT: Putin Demands "Collapse of NATO and the EU" by the End of 2026 and Control Over Moldova
Vladimir Putin, in a "secret briefing," set the task of achieving the "collapse of NATO and the EU from within" by the end of 2026, according to The New York Times, citing unnamed officials familiar with the situation. According to the newspaper, Moscow plans to exploit political and social contradictions within Western countries, while simultaneously increasing pressure on states that seek closer ties with the EU.
One of the key goals of the Russian campaign remains Moldova, the NYT writes. To put pressure on Chisinau, Moscow uses cyberattacks and disinformation, bribery of voters, funding of pro-Russian activists and priests, as well as the training of groups capable of organizing unrest.
In particular, instructors linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU) have organized training camps in Serbia, Bosnia, and Russia, the newspaper notes, citing Moldovan law enforcement officials and sources in Western intelligence agencies. Participants are being trained in the use of weapons, the manufacture of incendiary devices, and the use of drones, the NYT emphasizes. The newspaper's journalists spoke with participants in the Russian campaign, studied thousands of documents related to Russian attempts to interfere in elections, and compared the information obtained with materials from court cases and publications in Moldovan media.
In addition, Russian missiles and drones have this year struck energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, which are essential for the electricity and water supply of Moldova, the publication notes.
The NYT, citing sources, emphasizes that Putin still hopes to seize southern Ukraine in order to create a land corridor connecting Russia with Moldova. In the Kremlin's hierarchy of priorities, the conquest of Ukraine is first, and establishing control over Moldova is second, the newspaper writes, citing one source in Western intelligence agencies.
The NYT also notes that, with Moscow's support, a network of tens of thousands of activists has been created in Moldova, who receive payments via Telegram for participating in protests and campaigning against President Maia Sandu and her country's course towards EU membership. This likely refers to structures linked to Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, who is currently in Russia. His role in Russian influence operations in Moldova has previously been reported by Reuters, BBC, and Euractiv.
At the same time, the Russian campaign has not achieved its main political goal – the party of Maia Sandu retained power in the 2025 parliamentary elections. However, the newspaper notes, the Kremlin has not stopped its attempts to interfere since then.
On nous a bien dit que ça sera le dernier été en paix?
