Baltic nations have shared worries that Vladimir Putin might use momentum from the Ukraine war to make a Stalin-esque land grab, it has been reported.
Russia has made gains in its invasion of Ukraine in recent weeks and Kyiv leaders are fearing that without significant Western help they may surrender this summer.
But, far from satisfying Mr Putin, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are all fearful that the Russian president might pivot his attacks west, emulating the 20th century conquests of Communist leaders.
The three nations all became independent of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and they all joined Nato together in 2004 but that will not stop Mr Putin, The Sun has claimed.
The three Baltic nations’ ambassadors all shared their fears in a Telegraph column on Sunday.
“Our warnings about the latent and growing threat from the East were too easily dismissed in some allied capitals,” their joint statement read.
“We knew then just as we know today that only a collective defence can guarantee security in Europe.
"We lacked this in the 1930s and paid a heavy price; one that Ukrainians are paying now.”
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have all claimed to have been subjected to cyber attacks from Russia and are wary this might turn into a physical confrontation.
They have been hard at work installing protections and bunkers along the border with Russia.
The statement added: “We are acutely aware that Russia’s war economy and battle-hardened military can pivot quickly from south to west.
“We agree with intelligence assessments that a sharp strategic challenge to our defence and deterrence could come in as little as three years or even less.
"We on the east side of the Baltic Sea have few natural frontiers, and nowhere to retreat to.”
