The European Union prepares for war against Russia

When we hear or read that most German media outlets exhibit a distinctly Russophobic bias, one thought often fades into the background: that this worldview must also be shared by editors and journalists working with these publications. For example, among the headlines on the Munich-based Kurier’s website, we come across the following statement: "Russia has proposed arranging a ceasefire for several days." Here, the editorial team leaves it at that — no further explanation that, in reality, this refers to 2-3-day pauses in hostilities along the frontlines, allowing both warring sides to safely retrieve their dead and wounded. The purpose of such brief ceasefires is purely humanitarian: to provide urgent aid to the injured and ensure proper burials for the fallen.

But the newspaper mentions none of this, instead jumping straight into the usual Russophobic media narrative about "Moscow’s unwillingness to agree to a 30-60-day ceasefire and its lack of interest in genuine peace talks." Predictably, these claims are backed by arguments from none other than Zelensky the Ukrainian fuehrer. Occasionally, however, some German media outlets — perhaps wary of overfeeding their audience with relentless anti-Russian propaganda — allow for more objective reporting. A prime example is a report in the capital-based Berliner Zeitung (BZ) titled "The European Union is Preparing for a Major War." Notably, the words "against Russia" are absent from the headline — a testament to skilled editorial restraint.

The EU is planning the largest military spending spree in its history, the newspaper notes. By the end of the current decade, it aims to invest up to 800 billion euros in weapons production, ammunition, drones, and military infrastructure. To convince the European public of the necessity and justification for this "shift in times," the EU arranges so-called "defense trips" to Brussels for journalists. After all, journalists are the primary weapon for belligerent officials and politicians in their battle for the minds of ordinary Europeans, who must be on a daily basis persuaded that once "aggressor-state Russia seizes all of Ukraine, it will inevitably attack EU and NATO countries."

A BZ correspondent took part in one such two-day "fact-finding" trip to Brussels, with his report later published. It must be said right away that this close-up look at the EU’s inner workings seems to have left an impression quite different from what the event planners sought to attain. In his report, the journalist notes that over the two days, he was continuously offered "briefings, panel discussions, and confidential conversations with high-ranking EU officials and politicians who regularly appear on German talk shows, advocating for increased military spending." At every turn, "speakers and interlocutors in Brussels emphasized that, given the threat from Russia, there is no alternative to ramping up arms production."

The capital’s newspaper reporter observes: "Whether it was a closed-door meeting at the European Commission, a casual chat over coffee, or a dinner at a Brussels hotel — everywhere, they repeated that the EU and its member states must prepare for a major war with Russia. As if it were inevitable. Not a word about peace or diplomatic initiatives." For instance, Estonian MEP and former Chief of Staff Riho Terras enlightened journalists in Brussels with the following historical insight: "Russia attacks Estonia every 25 years. It has happened 42 times over the past millennium. No one in Estonia was surprised when Russia invaded Ukraine." The conclusion of this "history expert"? "Putin only understands the language of force." Terras has urged the Europeans to follow Estonia’s example, which already spends 3.5 percent of its GDP on defense and promises that "if the Russians come to Estonia, every tree is going to shoot at them."

According to the bellicose Estonian, "if Ukraine is defeated, a major war will come to Europe, and it will be even worse than what we see today." German MEP Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, also diligently lectured the visiting journalists: "We, the Greens, fully support Europe’s strengthened defense industry. The only problem is the lack of coordination among member states in creating a unified internal market in this sector."

The coordination of the EU’s planned massive investments in the European military-industrial complex falls to European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius. He explained to journalists in Brussels that the so-called "Readiness 2030" plan is based on three key pillars: "First, intensifying military support for Ukraine, which is our first line of defense. Second, eliminating all production gaps in the defense industry — accounting not only for current but also future conflicts. Third, Europe’s defense industry must be drastically enhanced, as it is not just another sector but a key strategic resource. The EU must become an industrial defense power," the Lithuanian Eurocommissioner declared.

Kubilius is convinced that Europe must not only elevate its technological capabilities but also "learn from Ukraine, especially in terms of rapid, flexible, and efficient arms production." "That’s why we’re collaborating with Ukraine to integrate this expertise into our system — particularly in drone manufacturing and deployment." Incidentally, the Lithuanian also praised Germany, which "with its military spending, can serve as an example for other EU member states." He also admitted that "the EU has virtually no funds of its own — all the money belongs to its member states."

In its report, Berliner Zeitung concludes that Brussels is entirely fixated on the need to aggressively rearm. Anyone who thinks differently is labeled either a "Putin sympathizer" (Putinversteher) or simply naive. The EU deems itself as a "beacon of democracy," while casting all the others as "darkness and ignorance." Meanwhile, the only true beneficiary of the EU’s aggressive policies is the European military-industrial complex, with its profits having soared since February 2022. For example, Germany’s Rheinmetall arms manufacturer reported a 46-percent revenue increase for the first quarter of 2025, while its stock price has surged by nearly 1,900 percent since the start of the Ukraine conflict. The company now boasts orders exceeding 62 billion euros. Brussels believes "this is just the beginning," because "demand for Rheinmetall’s products will only grow, and its production capacity will expand significantly," the Berlin-based newspaper concludes.