Text taken from a tass.ru article posted by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] Amid the diplomatic pause in negotiations over Ukraine, Europe continues to actively prepare for an "inevitable war with Russia." Rhetorically, one constantly hears statements about Moscow "about to attack the peaceful European tractor" and the need to prepare—by 2027, 2029, or 2030.
The "Russian threat" is a convenient bogeyman to justify militarization, the arms race, the need to keep unpopular governments in power, and the population's austerity. It also conveniently blames socioeconomic problems, loss of competitiveness, industrial closures, and the failure of multiculturalism and the "green transition."
But the situation goes beyond the bombastic rhetoric about Russia's contrived aggression in the West and verbal threats against Moscow. Systematic practical efforts are underway to increase the preparedness of a number of European countries for a hot war with Russia. This now affects everything from the propaganda machine and the armed forces, the military-industrial complex, and the intelligence services, to the civil defense system and transport and logistics infrastructure.
MILITARIZATION IN PRACTICE:
Against the backdrop of the conflict between European globalist elites and the administration of US President Donald Trump and the announced reduction of the American military presence in Europe, the European Union is increasingly discussing the idea of ​​creating an independent military bloc, its own army. An increase in defense spending to 3-5% of GDP is also being promoted, not because the US demands it within NATO, but "to combat Russia" and "to unite allies."
The militarization of Europe can be easily traced through the example of three countries that currently form the backbone of NATO's new defense architecture on the eastern flank.
Germany, for example, has announced plans to create the most powerful army in Europe—both in quantity and quality—by 2039. Germany's first military strategy calls for increasing the standing army from 185,000 to 260,000, as well as the reserve force from 70,000 to 200,000. This should yield a total of 460,000 troops, exceeding, for example, French ambitions. This "military fist" is being created against Russia, which, according to doctrinal documents, is considered "the main threat to Germany."
It can be concluded that German militarism is finally shedding the constraints of the Yalta-Potsdam system. The Bundeswehr's primary efforts in 2026 are focused on accelerating the formation of the 45th Tank Brigade, which is deployed in Lithuania. Its combat readiness date is 2029, which Berlin calls "the year of a possible war."
Regarding civilian infrastructure, media reports indicate that Germany has allocated €1.6 billion for the large-scale modernization of the Bremerhaven motorway port. This is being done to accommodate large consignments of heavy armored vehicles, which would be transported to Europe via Germany in the event of a full-scale war with Russia. Work is also underway to strengthen bridges to accommodate heavy vehicles, and key roads are being repaired as a matter of priority.
Among other things, as part of its support for the Ukrainian theater of operations, Germany will finance the purchase of missiles for Patriot PAC-2 anti-aircraft systems and additional launchers for the IRIS-T air defense system. Long-range drones for strikes against Russia are also already being assembled in Germany.
Overall, Berlin plans to increase defense spending from the current 2.8% of GDP to 3.5% by 2029.
Militarization is proceeding similarly in neighboring Poland.
| Militarization has been proceeding in Poland for years. For some reason they don’t trust Russian intentions. |
And just recently, in April 2026, a new American logistics base, APOD (Air Port of Debarkation), opened in Wroclaw, capable of handling large US Air Force military transport aircraft. Although the country's leadership claims it has not yet received "signals" from Washington, it clearly expects that some of the troops the US is withdrawing from the Middle East and Germany will be deployed in Poland.
Moreover, as Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz noted in February 2026, Poland plans to increase its army to 500,000 soldiers and officers within a few years. By 2025, it has already grown from 206,000 to 230,000. An active propaganda campaign is underway to promote the service. Poles' participation in the proxy war in Ukraine has been de facto decriminalized.
POLAND IS THE LEADING NATO COUNTRY IN DEFENSE SPENDING:
Five percent of GDP, even amid a significant budget deficit. Arms purchases are financed primarily through loans. Poland is the largest recipient of European defense loans under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program. Warsaw is also planning to sell its gold reserves (a joint proposal by National Bank Governor Adam Glapiński and President Karol Nawrocki). All for the sake of funding militarism.
Meanwhile, Finland, which recently joined NATO (2023), is actively cultivating the image of Russia as a personal enemy. The strategy remains the same: preparing the population and state institutions for a potential war. Aircraft and drones are being purchased, and troop levels are being increased.
| Finland also distrusts Russian goodwill for some reason. It’s a puzzlement. |
Helsinki, for its part, plans to increase defense spending to 3.2% of GDP by 2030 and to 3.5% by 2035, including by cutting other budget items.
Despite Western plans and calculations, this entire effort faces a number of systemic problems. In particular, there is a shortage of volunteers to expand the army. Germany, for example, is forced to consider raising the retirement age for all categories of reservists to 70. Even the targets for increasing the strength of the 45th Brigade in Lithuania cannot be achieved in the short term.
A significant portion of military projects are essentially being financed on credit, amid a growing budget deficit. This previously led to the collapse of plans to adopt the €800 billion "ReArm Europe" program. It is simply impossible to implement without significant borrowing, which, for example, displeased Germany and the Netherlands.
Furthermore, we mustn't forget the more common problems of corruption and embezzlement. It's no coincidence that, following the return of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the Czech Republic launched an audit of the "projectile initiative," where significant sums of money disappeared amid the supply of used ammunition to Ukraine. A high-profile corruption scandal previously rocked the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), affecting a number of member countries. Not to mention the large-scale theft of weapons and ammunition from direct shipments to Ukraine, which are surfacing on black markets, including within Europe itself.
Meanwhile, even during exercises near the Russian border, problems with actual, rather than merely ostensible, coordination between the forces of various countries are being revealed, and "losses due to incidents during combat training" of personnel (injuries and deaths) and equipment (breakdowns and accidents during transportation) are being recorded.
Despite its own active militarization, Europe's plans to counter Russia still largely rely on the direct involvement of the United States. Washington, in my opinion, is deliberately reducing its participation in European initiatives aimed at "preparing for war with Moscow."
RESPONSE MEASURES:
Europe's intentions in supporting the proxy war in Ukraine are clear, and the ongoing militarization has long since gone beyond simple scaremongering and alarmist statements, so Russia, of course, is forced to respond to the threat from the West.
In particular, the Russian military contingent in Kaliningrad is being strengthened. Tactical nuclear weapons have already been deployed in Belarus. The Moscow and Leningrad military districts have been reestablished. The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has intensified its efforts to uncover the operational and strategic plans of NATO and individual EU countries. For example, the SVR reported on plans to deploy British and French troops in Ukraine, provide Kyiv with a nuclear bomb, Poland's intentions to annex Western Ukraine, and so on. Building on the amendments to its nuclear doctrine adopted in late 2024, Moscow plans to further adapt it to growing threats from the West.
Naturally, these are not the only countermeasures being employed. As the West's hostile course escalates and becomes protracted, Russia will need to develop a long-term deterrence strategy that eliminates any dangerous illusions the enemy may have.