Eastern European politicians discussing preemptive attack on Russia

RT
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:30 UTC

© Omar Marques/Getty Images

US-made Patriot air defense system • Jasionka, Poland • January 23, 2025

The EU countries closest to Russia see it as an "existential threat." Several countries in Eastern Europe are considering a pre-emptive strike against Russia, according to Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper. The reported development comes despite the Ukraine peace negotiations launched by Moscow and Washington.

According to Kuper, an unnamed "prominent Eastern European politician" said, without elaborating: "

"The perceived pivot toward Moscow by US President Donald Trump has brought back the geographical distinctions of the Cold War, namely the idea of 'Eastern Europe' and 'Western Europe', where one sees Russia as an existential threat and the other isn't that bothered. We know that's why some of our countries are asking, 'Why don't we attack Russia now, instead of sitting waiting for it to attack us?'"

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Poland and the Baltic States have claimed that if allowed to win, Russia might attack them next. Moscow has consistently denied the claims, with President Vladimir Putin even describing them as "nonsense."

Countries in Eastern Europe were historically often part of larger empires - Russian, German, or Austro-Hungarian - and frequently lost their sovereignty. Czech writer Milan Kundera described this vulnerability as "a small nation can disappear, and it knows it."

These nations have recently displayed the strongest anti-Russian sentiment and are among the most vocal in calling for bolstered defenses. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, is known for her hawkish views on Russia.

The report comes as Russia and the US reestablished contacts last month and held high-level talks in Saudi Arabia. Brussels, however, is insisting on continued military support of Kiev.

In response to Trump's reported halt of American military aid to Ukraine aimed at forcing Kiev to negotiate, EU leaders, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, agreed on a €800 billion plan to "rearm Europe" and maintain support for Kiev.

Moscow has pledged to take measures to safeguard its security amid the "militarization" and "confrontational rhetoric" coming out of the EU. It has also long warned against Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only prolong the conflict without altering the outcome, while increasing the risk of a direct clash with NATO.

Comment: According to Dmitry Peskov, the bloc's defense plans are "primarily aimed at Russia":

The Kremlin has condemned the EU's plan to increase defense spending across the bloc, calling it a path towards confrontation that hinders peace efforts with Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday:

"The European Union is actively discussing its militarization, specifically in the defense sector. The measures are "primarily aimed at Russia, which is, of course, a matter of deep concern."

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed on Wednesday that Russia poses a direct threat to France and the entire EU. He echoed von der Leyen's calls for a significant increase in defense spending to counter perceived danger posed by Moscow. Macron's comments adhered to the conventional Western narrative portraying Russia as the unprovoked aggressor in the Ukraine conflict and claiming that Moscow has ambitions of conquest in Ukraine and beyond into EU and NATO states.

Russia has repeatedly and categorically denied the claims. Moscow will however, take measures to safeguard its security in response to the bloc, Peskov has warned.

"The kind of confrontational rhetoric and confrontational plans that we are now seeing in Brussels and in European capitals strike a seriously discordant note with intentions to find a peaceful resolution in Ukraine."

Russia and the United States launched negotiations last month to try and settle the Ukraine conflict, sidelining the EU. The move sparked condemnation from the bloc.

Moscow has argued the EU's aggressive stance made it unfit to take part in peace talks. Trump has also reportedly halted American military aid to Ukraine, leaving Brussels jostling for funds to support Kiev. Moscow maintains that Western aid prolongs the war without altering its outcome.
Without the scare crusade, Brussels is irrelevant.