Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has sounded the WW3 alarm bells, cautioning that Europe stands on the precipice of a “pre-war era” with the potential for conflict looming ominously for the continent.
Tusk’s sobering remarks come amid escalating tensions fuelled by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with fears of a wider conflict engulfing Europe.
“I don’t want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a concept from the past,” Tusk stressed in an interview with several European media outlets.
“It is real, in fact it already started more than two years ago.”
The gravity of his statement underscores the urgency of the situation, with Tusk asserting that Europe faces a threat unparalleled since the end of World War II.
Of particular concern to Tusk is the unsettling reality that “literally any scenario is possible”.
This sentiment reflects the deep-seated anxieties pervading European capitals, exacerbated by Russia’s belligerent actions and President Vladimir Putin’s repeated denials of any intentions to attack NATO.
Recent events have only heightened concerns. Just last week, a Russian missile breached Polish airspace, prompting Warsaw to scramble F-16 fighter jets—a development Tusk described as a “troubling incident”.
Yet, despite the looming spectre of war, Tusk cautioned that Europe remains ill-prepared to confront the looming threat. “We must be ready. Europe still has a long way to go,” he said, urging member states to meet NATO’s target of allocating 2 percent of their GDP to defence.
Tusk’s concerns extend beyond the borders of Europe, as he emphasised the critical need to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
“Today we have to spend as much as we can to buy equipment and ammunition for Ukraine, because we are living in the most critical moment since the end of the Second World War,” he stressed. The outcome of the conflict in Ukraine, Tusk warned, will have far-reaching implications for the security and stability of the entire continent.
