War is about to come to Europe. We must prepare for the arrival of a pre-war era. The European Union must prepare for its defense. And spend more on Ukraine. Whose fate is in the hands of the West. Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk speaks today in an interview with Republic of the Russian danger at the gates of the Old Continent. Since the day of his election, Tusk has led the Warsaw government with a coalition made up of Civic Platform, Third Way and New Left. And today he talks about the possibility of Russia attacking a NATO country: «I don’t want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a concept of the past. It’s real, it already started more than two years ago. The most worrying thing is that any scenario is possible.”
The pre-war era
In the conversation with Tonia Mastrobuoni Tusk says that «it is the first time since 1945 that we find ourselves in such a situation. I know it seems devastating, especially for the younger ones, but we have to mentally get used to the arrival of a new era. It’s the pre-war era. I’m not exaggerating. It’s becoming more evident every day.” While today «our main objective must be to protect Ukraine from the Russian invasion and to protect its independence and integrity. The fate of Ukraine is above all in our hands. I’m not referring to Poland or the EU alone, but to the entire West.” And then, regardless of who wins the American elections, whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump, «it is Europe that must do more on defense. Not to achieve military autonomy vis-à-vis the USA or to create structures parallel to NATO, but to better exploit our potential, our capabilities and our strength.”
Europe must arm itself
And again: «Frankly, even if Trump wins, Europe will still have to be more active in promoting transatlantic ties, because they are the only responsible way to defend itself from Russia and other autocracies». Tusk also says that we Europeans «must spend as much as possible to buy equipment and ammunition for Ukraine, because we are experiencing the most critical moment since the end of the Second World War. The next two years will be decisive. If we fail to support Ukraine with sufficient equipment and ammunition, if it loses, no one in Europe will be able to feel safe.” While it is certain that Vladimir Putin will use the massacre at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow to escalate the war in Ukraine: “Let’s remember what happened after the attack on the Dubrovka theater or the Beslan school.”
Putin, the massacre and Ukraine
Tusk recalls that Putin «has already started to blame Ukraine for having organized the attack, without providing any evidence in this regard. He evidently needs to justify increasingly violent attacks against civilian targets in Ukraine.” Finally, he talks about the France-Germany-Poland triangle: «The most important thing for the security of Europe is the agreement and cooperation between France, Germany and Poland on defence. Poland, thanks to its geographical position and its activism in the area, can play a very constructive role. Various formats exist in the EU. When I became prime minister, my first initiative was to renew relations with the Nordic countries, in particular with Sweden and Finland when they joined NATO. In terms of solidarity on security issues, it is an extremely promising format. And now I am trying to improve relations with colleagues from the Visegrad group.”
