Garisons: Putin's only option now is serious escalation in Ukraine and Europe

Jānis Garisons, chairman of the board of sea drone manufacturer Newt21 and former State Secretary at Latvia's Ministry of Defence, shared his assessment of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's likely next moves in a post on Facebook.

According to Garisons, Putin currently has no way out other than to seriously escalate the situation both in Ukraine and more broadly across Europe. He added that the Russian leader appears to be searching for weaker targets against which to direct potential aggression.

Who is Jānis Garisons

Garisons is a well-known figure in Latvia's defence sector, having spent many years at the Ministry of Defence, including serving as State Secretary. He currently heads Newt21, a company producing sea drones — a technology that has grown increasingly important in modern military conflicts, including Russia's war against Ukraine.

His comment adds to a wider debate about Moscow's intentions and possible next steps after more than three years of war in Ukraine. The remarks reflect concerns that Russia could attempt to widen the confrontation beyond Ukraine's borders by targeting less-defended countries or regions.

Garisons did not provide further detail on how or when such escalation might occur. His warning nonetheless echoes concerns already raised by other defence experts in Latvia and the wider region about the potential threat posed by Russia in the near future.