In a stark warning, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described Europe as being in a “pre-war era,” a situation unseen since 1945, due to escalating tensions with Russia.
Speaking to Die Welt, Tusk highlighted the gravity of the conflict that began over two years ago with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, stressing that “war is no longer a concept from the past.” The invasion has significantly altered Europe’s geopolitical landscape, prompting a shift in defence strategies across the continent.
Countries such as Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, marking a departure from their longstanding neutrality, while nations like Estonia, Lithuania, and Moldova have significantly increased their defence efforts and sought closer ties with the European Union.
The “Weimar Triangle,” comprising France, Germany, and Poland, has been at the forefront of Europe’s defence reinforcement against potential Russian aggression. Tusk, having returned to power, is focused on re-aligning Poland with European values after years of populist rule, underlining Poland’s increased military spending and support for Ukrainian refugees.
However, Tusk voiced concerns that Europe still needs to achieve greater defence autonomy and resilience, irrespective of the U.S. presidency stance. He also cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might exploit recent terrorist attacks in Moscow to justify further aggression in Ukraine, drawing parallels with past incidents used by Putin to escalate conflicts.
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