The situation in recent days in the European countries neighboring Russia is becoming particularly dangerous and is literally beginning to smell of gunpowder because of the successive provocations against them by Russia, including sabotage of their infrastructure, violations of their airspace by Russian drones, warplanes and missiles, and other disturbances.
Emboldened by the complete impunity for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Russia is clearly beginning to gradually target other neighboring countries as well, such as Poland, Romania, Moldova, the Baltic states, and Finland.
Its goal is twofold: on the one hand, to force these countries to stop supporting Ukraine and helping it with weapons to defend itself against Russian aggression; and on the other hand, to send a message to the broader West and NATO that it is ready and determined for a direct military confrontation with them.
When Russia first launched the attack on Ukraine, many warned that the ultimate goal of the warlike and megalomaniac Putin was the whole of Europe, but their warnings were not taken seriously. More than two years had to pass, tons of blood had to be shed, and thousands of lives had to be lost in Ukraine before Europeans slowly began to realize the danger and the threat under which they themselves also stand.
However, even today some continue to have doubts about where Putin is leading things and hold illusions about his true intentions. Others, more “in the know” and “suspicious,” not only see absolutely no threat from Russia, but also believe that the danger is being exaggerated solely to justify the large military and defense expenditures launched by the European Union, as well as the production and sale of new weapons systems and other military equipment. In other words, they repeat the same things they said when Putin was preparing to invade Ukraine, completely ruling out such a possibility and dismissing the information and warnings that existed at the time as “anti-Russian propaganda and hysteria.”
Unfortunately, this time too, events are proving them wrong. Putin, seeing the war in Ukraine not developing as he expected and not yielding what he had hoped for, is not only becoming more ruthless within Ukraine, bombing and killing hundreds of civilians and children every day, but is also preparing to open a front with Europe and NATO.
These days are more than critical and allow no complacency. On the contrary, maximum vigilance and alertness are required from everyone and at all levels.