A RUTHLESS Vladimir Putin is looking to expand Russia's sea borders in a chilling mission to seize an island that can be used as a nuclear launch pad, ex-Generals have warned. The Kremlin's latest brazen power move is set to push Nato allies to their limits as Russia looks to taunt the West with military experts warning The Sun it could "trigger WW3 ". Europe is on edge after Putin’s defence ministry announced a shock bid to change Russian maritime borders with Finland and Lithuania on Wednesday.
Russia is said to be trying to redraw their territorial waters to steal areas in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland and near the cities of Baltiysk and Zelenodradsk in the Kaliningrad region. But, experts are most concerned over Putin's plans to take over Gotland - an island that sits just off the coast of Sweden . It is thought to be the next area on Putin's hitlist if he gets his way and is regarded as one of the most important areas in the Baltic Sea.
Whoever runs Gotland dominates the Baltics General Richard Shirreff spoke to The Sun on the importance of Nato keeping control of Gotland and keeping it far away from the hands of a tyrant. He said: "It’s classic Putin. Since Finland and Sweden have joined Nato, it’s basically a NATO lake.
"This is an attempt to push back against NATO. There are no surprises there. "Whoever runs Gotland dominates the Baltics so the Swedes are rightly concerned about it.
" Former US General Ben Hodges has a chilling prediction on what a Russ.
