DID Press: European leaders say the continent has entered a new stage of confrontation with Russia, as rhetoric between Moscow and the West continues to escalate. In response, senior Russian officials dismissed the prospect of full-scale war, citing Europe’s lack of military capacity and political will.
Speaking at the Warsaw Security Conference, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the current standoff as a “new type of conflict” between Europe and Russia, warning that the situation must be taken seriously.
“Although this is a new form of confrontation, it is nonetheless a real one,” Tusk said. He called on European leaders to present this reality to the international community and emphasized that the West is gradually committing itself to the conflict, despite initial public resistance.
In a sharp response, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, claimed in a Telegram post that Europe is in no position to launch a full-scale war against Russia.
“Most European leaders lack strategic thinking and the decisiveness required for any serious confrontation,” Medvedev wrote, adding that while accidental clashes are possible, a deliberate war is highly unlikely.
Alexey Chepa, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee, also downplayed the risk of open conflict, saying there is no imminent threat of military war between Russia and the European Union, although he acknowledged that tensions are rising.
Chepa added that Moscow is seeking ways to de-escalate the situation but European governments have refused to engage with Russia’s diplomatic initiatives.
Adding an international perspective, Jeffrey Sachs, a prominent American economist and professor at Columbia University, criticized the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany for escalating tensions between Russia and Europe. Sachs warned that the absence of effective diplomacy could pose a serious threat to global security and increase the risk of a third world war.