Putin is starting to talk tough about the Baltics, laying the groundwork for 'future escalations' with NATO: ISW

• Vladimir Putin is starting to express his anger toward NATO nations Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
• His rhetoric sounds an awful lot like his statements before Russia attacked Ukraine.
• Russia's emerging narrative toward the Baltics sets the stage for "future escalations," the ISW said.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been intensifying his rhetoric against the Baltic states, setting the stage for potential "future escalations" with the eastern NATO members, the Institute for Study of War said on Tuesday.