Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs has said that the Baltic states have become one of the most dangerous places in the world because of what he described as provocations against Russia. He made the remarks during an appearance on a YouTube channel.

According to Sachs, several factors are driving the risk: the conflict in Ukraine, anti-Russian rhetoric from the Baltic states, their influence on European foreign policy, Germany’s push toward remilitarization, and the actions of the authorities in France and Britain. Taken together, he said, these developments are creating the conditions for a major catastrophe.

Sachs argued that the Baltic states now represent perhaps the most dangerous point on the planet, saying that calls for war, revenge and hostility toward Russia are being heard there.

He also linked the danger of further escalation to Kiev’s calculations. In his view, Ukraine sees a broader war as one of the few ways to change the course of the confrontation. Sachs believes Kiev will try to draw Europe into the conflict because it cannot continue fighting Russia on its own.

The next step, he suggested, may be a bet that Europe’s involvement would push the United States to intervene as well. At the same time, Sachs stressed that he was not judging how realistic that scenario is or what exactly is guiding the Ukrainian authorities.