Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised fears he could attack other countries by comparing himself to Peter the Great, Russia’s former emperor who made the country a world power. Speaking this week, Putin seemed to suggest he could follow in the historical figure’s footsteps. He said: “Peter the Great fought the Great Northern War for 21 years. Looks like he was at war with Sweden, he took something from them. He didn’t take anything from them, he came back [what was Russia’s]. “Apparently it’s also our lot to come back [what is Russia’s] and strengthen [the country]. And if we proceed from the fact that these fundamental values ​​form the basis of our existence, we will certainly succeed in solving the tasks that face us.

Putin has already invaded former Soviet territory – Ukraine – and Russia scholar and scholar Olga Lautman thinks there are a number of countries that could be invaded next.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, she said: “The West must provide Ukraine with as much military support as possible because if Russia is successful in Ukraine it will expand its war.

“The war will come out of Ukraine to other parts of Europe.”

When asked if Putin would invade other European countries, she added: “Absolutely. We have already seen Russia laying the foundations in Transnistria to try to destabilize Moldova, we have seen the same thing in South Ossetia to destabilize Georgia.

“So of course Poland, we heard former Russian Prime Minister Medvedev’s comments about Poland.

“We also saw the threats against Finland and Sweden because they wanted to join NATO, and you also have the Baltic countries.”

Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership following the invasion of Ukraine – a move that represents a huge shift in the countries’ defense policy.

Kremlin figures have already told Scandinavian countries they could face “military consequences” as a result.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also believes Russia will attack other nations.

Speaking in April, he said: “All nations who, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us. They must help us, because we are the first. And who will come next ?”

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In the same month, a Russian military general declared Moscow’s intention to control all of southern Ukraine to gain better access to Moldova.

Rustam Minnekayev said: “Since the start of the second phase of the special operation…one of the tasks of the Russian military has been to establish full control over Donbass and southern Ukraine.

“This will provide a land corridor to Crimea, as well as vital objects of the Ukrainian economy, the Black Sea ports through which agricultural and metallurgical products are supplied to [other] countries.”

He added: “Apparently we are now at war with the whole world. »

The Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – have also called for more military support from NATO allies following the invasion of Ukraine.

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This week, a member of the Russian legislature submitted a bill to the country’s parliament to repeal recognition of Lithuania’s independence.

Yevgeny Fyodorov, a member of Putin’s United Russia party, claimed that the independence of the Republic of Lithuania in 1991 was “illegal”.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis reacted furiously.

He said, “Only a state ruled by beasts could start a war like the one Russia started. I’m not surprised that in politics they don’t behave according to human standards.

“We must react accordingly – be prepared to defend ourselves both by ourselves and with our partners, by political, diplomatic or other means.”