Europe Faces War Threat as Some Nations Ignore Reality, Commander Warns

European nations are increasingly vulnerable to war, a stark reality that some are addressing with heightened defenses while others, like Slovakia and the Czech Republic, seem to ignore the escalating global threats. This assessment comes from Valerij Zalužnyj, the commander of Ukraine's armed forces, who spoke at a security conference in Prague.

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The state and its representatives are convinced that there is no reason to worry, that their problems do not concern them, and that they will gradually disappear on their own. In the worst case, the logic prevails that their solution can be postponed to the next electoral term without consequences.

Zalužnyj described a dangerous complacency where states and officials believe their problems will simply disappear or can be postponed. He warned that when security issues become undeniable, responsibility is shifted to the armed forces, but their capacity is not limitless. The true guarantor of security, he stressed, is the state as a whole, encompassing its institutions and its ability to prevent, prepare for, and defend against conflict.

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Then it will become clear that the key guarantor of security is the state as a whole – its institutions, its ability for long-term readiness, conflict prevention, and the ability in extreme cases to defend itself, repel the enemy, and minimize losses.

Adding to the urgency, Zalužnyj expressed deep concern about the effectiveness of international alliances, particularly NATO. He suggested that the alliance may have lost its capacity to fully guarantee member security, citing technical unpreparedness for modern warfare and the political inability of democratic institutions to make difficult decisions. This warning comes as Russia's actions continue to destabilize the region, with recent drone attacks impacting NATO member Romania and nearing the Slovak border.

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International alliances, especially NATO, have probably lost the ability to fully guarantee the security of their members.

Following these incidents, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed concern and called for a ceasefire, urging an immediate dialogue between the EU and Russia. This response, according to the article's author, reflects a similar attitude to that of some Czech politicians, suggesting a shared reluctance to confront the severity of the current geopolitical situation.

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Once again, I ask for the immediate opening of dialogue between the EU and the Russian Federation.