Viewpoint: Putin's lightning strike awakens Europe
While Europe, the mood was far from happy.
Recently, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded in an assassination attempt. Thankfully, he is now out of danger, with many details about the shooting still obscure. However, the frightening event added to the ominous sense of crisis sweeping the continent; the feeling that, with the situation so tense, it's vital to prepare urgently, as it might worsen drastically.
In the past ten days, Putin assumed office for his fifth term as Russia's president. During this time, his forces launched a sudden offensive on Ukraine's northeastern region, drawing near Kharkiv, one of the nation's largest cities, and capturing several Ukrainian villages.
This strategic invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky states, is designed to force Ukraine to exhaust its resources and stretch its defenses.
Politically, it comes months before the potential return of former President Donald Trump, who has indicated he'll lessen the Biden administration's support for Kyiv.
Just like many others, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron deemed it a "dangerous moment." Russia, he said, had essentially "invaded again."
Similarly, Georgians despaired as Moscow's allies there ignored widespread street protests and passed the so-called "foreign agents" bill, similar to one used by the Kremlin to quash its democracy advocates. It marked a triumph for Russia and a defeat for the overwhelming majority of Georgians yearning for their nation to join the democratic European Union.
To achieve these achievements without battling was more cost-effective. So, Moscow stirs up trouble in Moldova, another former Soviet Republic aiming for European Union membership, and there's mounting proof of ongoing Russian attempts to interfere in European and other elections, disseminating falsehoods and intensifying political tensions.
Surprisingly, the Slovak foreign ministry also implicated Russia in the elections that put Fico - an admirer of Putin - in power via Slovakia. (Moscow denies the claims.)
Outside the hospital where Fico was receiving treatment on Wednesday, Slovakia's interior minister remarked that the country was "standing on the edge of civil war" due to political tensions. Furthermore, the suspect declared he disapproved of Fico's policies during the encounter with law enforcement officers.
Ukraine's struggle against Russia more than two years ago transformed into a monumental test for Europe. As Russia extends its reach in Ukraine, the entire region is realizing this conflict entails more than the survival of a former Soviet state. Each day, the realization that what began in Ukraine will profoundly alter Europe for years surfaces more blatantly.
In Moscow, Putin initiated another shock move, relieving long-time Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of his position. Belousov, a former government official with a background in economic matters and "military-industrial complex issues," per experts, replaced him. This could indicate that turning Russia into a fully-fledged war economy is the new objective.
In response, Europe is hastening its own preparations, not just for Ukraine's sake, but for its own defense.
It wasn't long ago when Ukraine seemed in control, driving the Russian forces from the regions they invaded. Now, all that has shifted. When the far-right Republicans in the United States House of Representatives delayed the military aid package for months, Russia regained the edge.
The package was approved last month, however, and the weaponry will arrive soon, but the mismatch in military supplies persists.
Russia's militarized economy, functioning under a system that doesn't tolerate opposition, and Putin in absolute control, is not only retrieving weaponry from Iran and North Korea (as per the US) but also receiving significant support from China (which denies this openly, claiming neutrality). Moreover, Russia is producing triple the amount of artillery shells its adversaries are.
As Russian forces advance and Putin depicts the struggle as a crusade against the West, Europe sets in motion a massive initiative to prepare for the worst. Historians may not be able to assert, in retrospect, that Europe disregarded the threat, despite the decades following the Cold War, which burgeoned in confidence about the enduring power of peace and democracy.
Norway, with a crucial Arctic border with Russia, is a NATO member but not part of the EU. It recently announced what it considers an extensive 12-year military development plan. By 2036, its defence budget will double, and its army will have three times as many brigades.
In London, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently unveiled a significant defense spending boost, aiming to shift the country into a "war readiness" mode.
In the Netherlands, where Mark Rutte, a favorite to head NATO, is stepping down, defence expenditure will double, from $15.6 billion in 2022, when Russia commenced the war - to $31.2 billion by 2029.
French leader Emmanuel Macron has refused to dismiss the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, should Russia cross the front line and Zelensky requests support. This suggestion has been dismissed by European allies, who fear escalating tensions with Putin.
The uncertainty around this issue is also hindering Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines. The US, for instance, has prohibited Ukraine from targeting locations within Russia using the weapons they provide, as observed by the Institute for the Study of War, making it difficult for Ukraine to effectively defend itself against Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region. This rule has essentially created a safe haven for Russia to launch attacks from the border zones.
It's high time to relax these limitations. Ukraine must be permitted to defend itself, even at the cost of striking targets within Russian borders. It's increasingly apparent that the cost of letting Putin subjugate Ukraine is becoming too steep.
Despite their reluctance to deploy troops, Germany appears to be reconsidering its stance on mandatory military service. A leaked document indicates that Berlin is considering conscription for 18-year-olds, suggesting that the current crisis is causing a shift in perceptions about national and regional security, with consequences that will be felt for quite some time, regardless of how or when this conflict ends.
Preparations for potential conflict are particularly striking in Finland, a country that shares the longest European border with Russia and has previous experience with Kremlin invasions. Finland has boosted its civil defense shelters, stockpiled weapons, ammunition, fuel, and even grain to sustain its population.
"Russia respects power," said Finnish Lt. Gen. Mikko Heiskanen, describing a long-term strategy to strengthen the nation's ability to defend itself.
While Putin and Xi may be enjoying their moment in the sun, Europeans are determined to ensure this status lasts only a short while.
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- In response to Putin's actions, various European leaders have expressed their concerns and shared their critical opinions about Russia's aggressive policies towards Ukraine.
- The alleged Russian involvement in the Slovakian elections, as suggested by Slovakia's interior ministry, has sparked significant debates and diverse opinions within the European political sphere.
Source: edition.cnn.com
