Europe Braces for Potential Conflict as Russian Threat Intensifies
recent statements from European military and politicalโ leaders โsignal โa growing apprehension regarding potential conflict with Russia,โฃ despite ongoing debate โฃover the future โof Ukraine.
Aโ shift in โคrhetoric is underway โacross โEurope,with officials increasingly framing Russiaโฃ as a direct and imminent threat. Generalโข Carsten Breuer, Chiefโ of โthe German armed forces, has explicitly described Russia as “an imminent threat.” This sentiment echoes comments made earlier โthis year by Polishโฃ Primeโข Minister Donald Tusk, who stated his contry was entering a “pre-war phase.”
Concernsโ have been heightened by recent incidents,including the sabotage of a Polish railway line earlier this month. โคGeneral Wieslaw Kukula, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, responded byโฃ asserting that “the adversary has begun preparations for war,” and is actively working to destabilize the region by undermining public trustโฃ in government and key institutions.
The increasingly stark languageโ reflects a essential shift in how Europe is discussing its security future. Frenchโฃ Armyโข Chief General Fabien Mandon sparkedโ controversy this week by emphasizing the need for France to be prepared for significant sacrifice, โคstating theโ nation must be ready to “lose its children” in a potential โwar with Russia. โฃHe arguedโ that while France possesses theโข necessary capabilities to deter Moscow, it lacks the necessary resolve, stating, “What we are lackingโฆโฃ is the spirit. โฃThe โspirit which accepts that we will have to โฃsuffer if we are โขto protect what we are.”
This heightened state of alert โฃis fueled by a recognition that โคRussian President Vladimir Putinโข is unlikely to accept any scenario involving a sustainedโฃ foreign โขmilitary presence in ukraine – a โคkey concern โฃthat initiallyโ motivated his actions. Furthermore, Ukraine and much of Europe are unlikely to believe that ceding territory, even land โcurrently occupied by Russia, would guarantee an end to Russian โaggression, particularly regarding territories Putin is currently demanding but doesโ not control.
This complex reality presents a โsignificant challenge to calls for a swiftโ endโ to the conflict, such as those recently made by former U.S. President Donald Trump.โ
Laura Tingle is the ABC’s Global Affairs Editor.
