If Putin is not defeated in Ukraine, he will march on Europe.
In recent months, in sync with attempts at massive assaults on the front, Russia has been concentrating its propaganda efforts to cut off any Western support for Ukraine. In particular, it has cultivated the myth that the Russian army is invincible (which, in reality, shows no success on the battlefield), and so must be negotiated with before Putin comes to Europe. In reality, Putin is pursuing the exact opposite goal: having received a tactical pause, to rearm, and with renewed vigour to start a new phase of the war, which is most likely to come to Europe. In this respect, Russia must suffer unacceptable losses in Ukraine with modern weaponry. This is the only way to temper the Kremlin’s territorial appetite.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said that the West cannot allow Putin to defeat Ukraine. Such an outcome of the war of conquest launched by Russia would condition a civilisational defeat for the West and inspire the Kremlin to escalate further. However, to effectively counter Russia, Europe must qualitatively strengthen its military potential. We are talking about comprehensive rearmament, filling arsenals with all types of weapons, even – renewing military conscription. Europe should prepare its armies as if they will fight Russia in 3-5 years. After all, it is no coincidence that Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said that the war in Ukraine is a war for the future of Europe. By supporting the Ukrainian armed forces, the West is investing in its own peaceful present and future. Reducing such support will lead to NATO deciding whether to apply Article 5 to protect, for example, Estonia from Russian occupation or to abandon it to its fate, provoking a pan-European catastrophe.
Putin makes no secret of the fact that Russia has started an open-ended war that will last exactly as long as he is in power. In this regard, timely support for Ukraine, along with quality rearmament in Europe, are the most important factors in preventing a major war, the breath of which is getting closer and hotter.
