Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has issued a stark warning, stating that Europe has entered a "pre-war era," and stressing that if Ukraine falls to Russia, no one in Europe will be secure.
"I don't want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a concept from the past," he told European media. "It's real and it started over two years ago., emphasized Tusk hinting that war is no longer a distant concept but a harsh reality that began over two years ago.
His remarks come as Russia escalates its bombardment of Ukraine, with a fresh wave of Russian missiles targeting the country. Ukrainian authorities reported significant damage to energy infrastructure in multiple regions, leading to emergency blackouts in certain areas and calls for electricity conservation.
Tusk, a former European Council president, criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for baselessly blaming Ukraine for attacks and escalating violence against civilian targets. He highlighted Russia's use of hypersonic missiles against Kyiv as evidence of the intensifying conflict.
In his appeal to European leaders, Tusk urged for greater investment in defense capabilities, emphasizing the need for every European country to contribute at least 2% of GDP to defense spending. He stressed that Europe should be prepared to defend its security collectively and not strive for military autonomy from the United States or parallel structures to NATO.
As tensions between Russia and the West reach Cold War-era levels, Tusk dismissed Putin's claims of non-aggressive intentions towards NATO countries but also debunked the notion of Russia targeting Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic. However, he warned that any Western military support to Ukraine could make those resources legitimate targets.
Tusk revealed a plea from Spain's Prime Minister to avoid using the word "war" in summit statements, but he countered that war is a tangible reality in his part of Europe. Urging for urgent military aid to Ukraine, he stressed that the next two years of the conflict would be decisive, comparing the current situation to the critical moments following World War II.
Despite the grim outlook, Tusk expressed optimism about a shift in mentality across Europe regarding security threats, acknowledging increased awareness of Russia's potential aggression. He praised security cooperation among Poland, France, and Germany and noted the transformation of Sweden and Finland from neutral states to NATO members.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Gen Oleksandr Syrskiy, acknowledged the significant disparity in military capabilities between Ukrainian and Russian forces. He highlighted the challenges faced by Ukrainian troops due to shortages in weapons and ammunition but expressed hope for increased international aid to bolster their defense.