The 'hybrid war' Europe faces is a gift for Putin
5 hours ago
- #Russia-Ukraine War
- #Hybrid Warfare
- #European Security
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the war in Ukraine's impact to millions of Europeans without direct military action.
- Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned of increasing hybrid attacks but stopped short of directly blaming Russia.
- Uncertainty and lack of clarity about the perpetrators of these attacks create distrust in authorities.
- Incidents like drone violations in Poland and Estonia, and hacking attacks on European flights, raise suspicions of Russian involvement.
- Denmark, despite uncertainty, is bolstering its defenses and supporting Ukraine with F16s and long-range missiles.
- Western officials debate whether attributing blame to Russia exacerbates discord or if silence leaves societies unprepared.
- Instances of sabotage and espionage linked to Russia are increasing across Europe, including in the UK and Poland.
- Putin's strategy aims to make the costs of supporting Ukraine more palpable to Europeans, influencing public and political opinion.
- Europe faces new defense challenges, including protecting infrastructure from drones and hackers, and securing eastern borders against Russian threats.
- The economic and logistical sustainability of defending against cheap drones with expensive countermeasures is questioned.
- Potential risks for Russia include overreach by saboteurs, being blamed for unrelated crimes, and unpredictable reactions from the US under Trump.
- Putin's recent escalations may be timed with support from China's President Xi Jinping, indicating cautious strategy over stark risks.
- Hybrid attacks impose a sense of cost on Europeans for their governments' support of Ukraine, mirroring some hardships faced by Russian civilians.
- Europe is left with expensive, complex security challenges without clear solutions or culprits, serving Putin's short-term strategic goals.