In a Sept. 22 podcast for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, which also ran in the 23 print issue of the news daily, Nico Lange, Senior Fellow at the Munich Security Conference, joins the chorus of NATO hysterics, urging Europe not to give Putin time, but to unite against Russia and make a quick, massive military decision.
No one any longer expects a quick end, said Lange, not even Vladimir Putin. “The goal now is simply to continue the war in the hope that a political opportunity for a decision will arise.” The more time Putin has for this, the better for him. “War is always a race against time,” said Lange. And however slow—especially among Germans and Europeans—it repeatedly gives Putin options and opportunities to develop things that create problems for Europe. Especially since Putin no longer wants to return to “normal” rule. “Putin has given himself a historic mission: To establish the other, correct order in Europe—a dominant Russia that can push everyone else around. Hopefully without Americans on the European continent.”
As long as Putin is President, the Kremlin will continue to pursue the course it has set: “The transformation of the European order is his political program.”
Europeans are still hoping that Trump will listen to them and somehow ensure European security. That is a hope that will not be fulfilled. Instead, Europeans should present a united front and accumulate their economic, financial, and military resources as quickly as possible, put pressure on Russia, and bring about a genuine willingness to negotiate.
Otherwise, there is a threat of “years of very slow, gradual destruction of Ukraine” from the East—with fatal consequences for the whole of Europe: “We will have to spend far more resources on all the consequences of this war than if we were to make a decisive decision.”
Only a resolute stance by the Europeans would make an end to the war seem possible at present, Lange believes: “If Ukraine’s European partners say: ‘That’s it, Vladimir Putin, we are giving Ukraine security guarantees.’” It would be even better, according to Lange, if Ukraine became a member of NATO. Only the U.S. and Germany are still unwilling to take this step. “Even the French say: This is the most cost-effective and efficient option.”
