This means that instead of discussing a "peace plan" for Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. are being offered to discuss a possible war between Russia and European countries, which, according to the Kremlin's rhetoric, could begin at any moment."We have no right to ignore the militarization of Europe. We must respond. And the response will be, to put it mildly, convincing," Putin stated two months ago at the Valdai Forum. It was there that Europe was first identified as Russia's main enemy. So the current statement is just an evolution of these views: from defining the enemy to hinting at its destruction. After which, as he says, "a situation may quickly arise where we will have no one to negotiate with."The timing of this statement is not accidental. Today, the security of the European continent is inextricably linked to the security of Ukraine. In fact, negotiations on ending the war are about a new architecture for Europe that will emerge after the cessation of hostilities and will determine life for decades to come. Europeans understand this, and therefore coordinate positions with Ukraine, strengthening it, and not allowing our country to be "surrendered" and left alone with Russia.The Kremlin understands well that any agreements with Washington regarding Europe without the Europeans themselves are meaningless. Europe is not an American colony; it has its own institutions, a strong economy, and sufficient resources to support Ukraine for years. "Therefore, the Kremlin is unlikely to seriously expect that it will be possible to agree with Trump, and he will impose this decision on Europe and Ukraine. This simply will not happen. And it is precisely to influence the European position that Putin is resorting to direct threats of war and destruction."Obviously, Europe is not ready for war right now. According to various estimates, the European defense industry will only be able to reach acceptable rates of arms production in 2027–2029. And given the unpredictable policies of the current U.S. administration, no one can guarantee that the American army will come to the rescue in the event of a Russian attack. Thus, if Putin has a "window of opportunity" to strike at Europe, it is open right now – while Europe is not ready for war, and the U.S. is undergoing a process of reviewing its role as a security guarantor.It should also be recalled that in 2022, the invasion of Ukraine was also presented as a "preemptive strike." The phrase "we simply had no choice" was heard on February 24 and repeated many times thereafter. Putin tried to explain the full-scale war as a reaction to the "militarization of Ukraine," although in reality, our state was arming itself in response to the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas. Today, Europe is also militarizing – and precisely because of Russian aggression. In other words, all factors have now converged that make a Russian strike on Europe quite probable. During the autumn, Putin tested the European defense system with drones, missiles, and combat aircraft over Poland, the Baltic states, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and other countries. The collected data can be used now – later it will lose its relevance. To this must be added that, since European armies avoid direct participation in hostilities in Ukraine, the Russians have a clear advantage in the form of significant real combat experience. Russia demonstrates brutality and a willingness to fight with huge losses, while Europe for years could not even form a small garrison for a potential mission in Ukraine after the war.And it is against this background that Putin resorts to direct threats of war and destruction against Europe.Today, any statements about supporting Ukraine, condemning aggression, or war crimes no longer have the significance they once did. Europe needs correct actions, resource mobilization, strategic planning, and more active participation in shaping the conditions for ending the war – conditions that will ensure the survival not only of Ukraine but of the entire continent.SourceAbout the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Ukrainian lawmaker.The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.