LOS ANGELES (OC).–Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov tried to allay fears in the European Union over Russian’s joint military exercises with Belarus, something announced in advance to neighboring countries. With the EU overreacting to inadvertent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, the paranoia levels have reached a fever’s pitch in Brussels, announcing the NATO had invoked Article 4, requiring joint consultations with NATO allies to deal with a potential threat to the alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin said nothing about the apparent errant drone crossing into Polish territory, only saying that there was no hostile intent. Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the NATO response, using Netherland jets to intercept the drones and shoot them down, causing scattered damage on the ground. But to the EU, they’re dealing with a Russian threat.
Zelensky praised NATO pilots shooting down the Russian drones, when it was an entirely accidental incursion into Polish territory. Zelensky has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet on peace talks, when, in fact, it’s just the opposite. Zelensky no longer trusts President Donald Trump to handle negotiations with the Russian Federation, instead turning to the EU to handle future talks. EU officials led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have turned the Ukraine peace talks into a national security issue for the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Putin a “predator” with Merz adding that Putin could be the biggest war criminal the EU has ever faced. So, with statements like those, it’s doubtful the EU looks for peace.
Peskov recognized the fact that the EU considers Russia its mortal enemy, much the same way the Zelensky sees the Kremlin. “But now Western Europe is taking a hostile stance towards us, and that is leading to emotional overload in these countries,” Peskov said, referring to the the kneejerk way NATO called for Article 4 consultations for Russia’s accidental incursion into Polish airspace. Poland sits on Russia and Ukraine’s border, putting into proximity to the kind to war games that goes on in the region. When it comes to Russian drones straying across the Polish border, there was no attempt by Russian to shoot at any Polish targets. If damage was incurred because of NATO’s shoot down of any drones, it had nothing to do with Russia. Peskov correctly raises the hysteria that apparently prevails with Russia-EU interactions, now bordering on the irrational.
Peskov said there was no reason for Poland to close its border with Belarus, knowing the Russian ally had nothing to do with any Russian drones crossing into Poland. Peskov reminded the NATO alliance that Russia never did anything to threaten any NATO countries. If you listen to Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda Putin is ready to seize Poland and the Baltic States. There’s no rationality left in the EU, thinking the Ukraine War prevents Putin from seizing more European territory. Zelensky has gaslighted the EU telling its leaders that Ukraine must win the war or Europe faces next the move to seize former Soviet satellites. Putin has told every foreign journalist, including former Fox News Tucker Carlson, that he has no intent of picking a fight with NATO. Yet if you listen to strong voices in the EU, Ukraine must keep fighting to keep Putin from seizing EU territory.
Peskov correctly recognized the fact that there’s “emotional overload” in EU countries, transforming Russia into once reliable business partner into mortal enemy. It wasn’t that long ago that former German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid $12 billion to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to carry cheap Russian natural gas to Germany for the foreseeable future. Turns out that Ukrainian saboteurs, though denying it, blew up the underwater pipeline Sept. 26, 2022. But Germany and other EU countries were a patrons of the Russian Federation for years, buy cheap Russian petroleum and natural gas. Peskov sees Zelensky as the one that’s soured the EU on Russia, now treating Putin as a mortal enemy. Putin has not threatened to EU other than saying that if the Russian Federation were threatened he would reserve the right to use nuclear weapons to defend the Russian State.
Calling the EU and NATO response to Russian drones crossing into Poland “emotional overload,” Pesko makes a point that there’s no actual threat to the EU. Zelensky has warned Brussels that if Ukraine doesn’t prevail in the war, Putin would have his eyes set on other EU countries. Putin has denied any factual basis to Zelensky’s accusations. If the EU doesn’t get a grip on their “emotional overlad,” there’s no end in sight to the Ukraine War. Putin has his beef with Ukraine, obviously taking copious arms from years of Biden’s failed proxy war strategy. Trump told it straight to Zelensky that he had no cards. Just because the EU agrees with him that he should not cede any sovereign territory to Putin, doesn’t mean Zelensky should not cut a deal with Putin to end the war.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analzyin spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
