Nato would not be able to defend the Baltic states against a Russian invasion, one of the most senior US generals in Europe has warned.

Lt-Gen Frederick “Ben” Hodges, commander of the US army in Europe, said Russia could capture the capitals of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in as little as 36 hours.

“Russia could conquer the Baltic states quicker than we could get there to defend them,” Gen Hodges said.

Nato does not have enough forces in place to protect the alliance’s eastern flank, the general said in an interview with Germany’s Zeit newspaper.