European countries are increasingly facing Russia’s hybrid warfare — drone attacks, cyberattacks, sabotage in the Baltic Sea, and other provocations. Public figure Valeriy Klychok emphasizes that these Russian actions push European allies toward more decisive policies and changes in defense approaches. Ukraine, since the start of the large-scale invasion, has called for a no-fly zone and an end to Russian energy imports, highlighting that long-term ignorance of the threat is no longer viable.
European nations had to revise their positions following U.S. signals about limiting support and calls for greater self-reliance in defense. Recent provocations — drones over Poland and Romania, attacks on infrastructure, and cyberattacks — make the threat feel more immediate, prompting new laws and authorization to shoot down drones. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish and German leaders now publicly acknowledge Russia’s hybrid war against the EU.
Surveys show that more than half of Europeans support increased defense spending. Poland and the Baltic states are already strengthening their defenses, while other countries are also reassessing their security stance. Strengthening European defense policy and devising collective responses to hybrid threats are core priorities. Political discussions are becoming public, with new coalitions and situational alliances forming to deter Russian aggression.
Europeans must quickly adapt to new realities as responsibility and defense capability become critical for the continent’s future. Changing public consciousness and readiness for more decisive resistance to aggression are already evident in recent polling.
