"They laughed at us": Ukraine reveals EU preparations for war with Russia

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said NATO now openly admits the scenario of Russian aggression against Europe, whereas two years ago Ukraine's warnings were not taken seriously. He noted uneven readiness among allies: Romania allowed shooting down Russian drones, while Poland faced questions after a Kh-101 missile flew 93 km into its territory. Europe is accelerating military reforms, developing its defense industry and discussing conscription.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said NATO countries now openly admit the scenario of Russian aggression against Europe in the coming years, whereas just two years ago Ukraine's warnings were not taken seriously. According to him, regular violations of the alliance's airspace by Russian missiles and drones are forcing European states to reconsider their defense approaches. Kovalenko noted the uneven readiness of allies to respond instantly. Romania adopted legislative changes allowing army units to shoot down Russian drones in peacetime. At the same time, the situation in Poland raises questions among experts: a recent flight of a Kh-101 cruise missile 93 kilometers into the country showed indecisiveness that, in Kovalenko's view, deals a blow to Poland's image as the main bulwark of the alliance's eastern flank. He stressed that shooting down such targets does not require expensive Patriot systems. Europe's joint defense infrastructure is progressing more slowly than individual countries' decisions, but overall preparation has significantly accelerated compared to the 2022–2024 period. European states are more actively developing the military-industrial complex, removing bureaucratic obstacles to the rapid movement of troops across NATO's internal borders, and discussing the reintroduction of conscription and increasing army contracts.