BILD: Preparations underway for withdrawal of US troops from Kosovo

(Patria) - There is great concern in many parts of Europe over US-Russian negotiations.

US President Donald Trump rules out a complete withdrawal of US troops from Europe, but according to information from BILD, Western security services and politicians fear that the negotiations that began in Riyadh could lead to the withdrawal of US troops from Eastern Europe.

An Eastern European security official told BILD that this concerns Putin's demands from 2021.

- According to our information, it is about Putin's demands from 2021, namely the withdrawal of US troops from all NATO countries that joined the Alliance after 1990 - the source said.

If this happens, numerous experts fear an immediate invasion by the Russian army of the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as a large-scale war with Poland.

The presence of US troops in areas near Russia, according to the consensus in Russia's neighboring countries, is the greatest guarantee for the independence of these countries, writes BILD.

An Eastern European Official has told the German Newspaper, BILD, that discussions are ongoing in regards to the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from all Countries in Europe that joined the NATO Alliance after 1990, which is reported to have been one of the Goals of recent Negotiations… pic.twitter.com/WBy8SDx1JD

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 19, 2025

Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote on X that Lavrov demanded NATO withdraw to the 1997 borders.

"Lavrov demanded that NATO return to its 1997 borders and withdraw from all countries except East Germany in the interest of stability in Europe. So why wouldn't Putin demand this in Riyadh," Landsbergis questioned.

According to BILD information, Italy is also preparing for a possible withdrawal of US troops from Kosovo. Then European allies would be alone in the Balkans against Putin's friend Aleksandar Vučić and his army.

Serbia has significantly armed itself with Chinese and Russian weapons in recent years, and President Vučić is currently desperately fighting to stay in power as large student protests against his rule shake the country.

BILD writes that German diplomats tell them that a nightmare scenario is unfolding given the troubled history in the Balkans.

"Putin wants NATO troops to withdraw from the entire former Soviet empire. European officials believe it is likely that Trump will agree to the withdrawal of US troops from the Baltics and possibly further west. This would leave the EU defenseless against the Russian army," writes the Financial Times.

According to BILD information, discussions are currently not only about US bases in German Ramstein and air force bases in the United Kingdom. The rest of Europe must prepare for deep changes if Trump and Putin reach an agreement.