Year: 2025
Type: editorial
Abstract: 2 European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 101, Spring 2024.exercise of sovereignty over parts of their national militaries, accept a substantial impact on other policy areas or tax hikes, or compromise on what weapons systems to buy and from whom. EVOLVING THREAT LANDSCAPERussia's war against Ukraine barrels on, already for more than a decade.It is a dangerous illusion 3 to assume that the Russo-Ukrainian war is just a conflict between Slavic brethren and that Putin will stop once he has conquered 'Little Russia'. 4 The Kremlin has left no doubt, whether by its statements or actions, as to its objectives: to regain control of Central and Eastern Europe and to restore a Yalta-style European order.5 Neo-imperialist Russia is at war with the EU and NATO.Therefore, Europe's security is inextricably linked to that of Ukraine.Russia's economy is in full war mode.Hit by Western sanctions, it is being propped up by China, which is buying its energy, providing an alternative to the US dollar, and replacing Western supplies, from electronics and other dual-use goods toallegedlyweapons.6 President Putin is spending well over a third of his country's budget on the military (SIPRI, 2025).7 In a period of three months Russia can produce more weapons and more ammunition than the EU Member States collectively can in twelve.Sabotage conducted or ordered by Kremlin operatives happens all over the continent and the low-risk high-reward attacks on critical infrastructures in the Baltic Sea may well be replicated elsewhere.The military intelligence agencies of Germany and Denmark have openly warned that Russia could test Europe's readiness to defend itself in three to five years' time.8 This has led High Representative Kallas to say that this 'heavily militarized country presents an existential threat to all of us'. 9 NATO Secretary General 3 K.Schlögel, Europe Refuses to See That Vladimir Putin Is in Fact Waging a War Against it and Against the West (Le Monde 1 Mar.2025).4
Source: European Foreign Affairs Review
DOI: 10.54648/eerr2025016
Author: Steven Blockmans
Institutions: College of Europe, Centre for European Policy Studies
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4413273003