German Spy Chief Warns Russia Tensions Can Turn Hot Anytime

The heads of Germany’s three main intelligence services, Martin Jaeger, left, Martina Rosenberg, center, and Sinan Selen in Berlin, on Oct. 13. 

Photographer: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to test European borders and could escalate the conflict into a “hot confrontation” at any moment, according to Germany’s top spy.

Martin Jäger, the new president of Germany’s BND foreign-intelligence service, told lawmakers in Berlin Monday that Russia’s actions are designed to undermine NATO, destabilize European democracies, divide societies and intimidate the public.