Russian Security Council Head Calls for Instilling 'Animal Fear' in EU to Deter Conflict

The head of the Russian Security Council and former president has written an article arguing that Russia must instill 'animal fear' in European countries to prevent future conflict. The piece was published ahead of the 81st anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, also known as Russia's V-Day.

It states that goodwill measures and unilateral confidence-building steps have proven futile. The article says it is no secret that an attempt is being made to impose the doctrine of 'peace through strength' on Russia. ' The text stresses that only the formation of an understanding in Germany and supporting European countries of the inevitability of unacceptable damage can prevent a major conflict.

The article concludes that neither persuasion nor demonstrations of good intentions should be the tools used to prevent a large-scale war.

The piece points to statements by German officials who vowed to turn the German military into the strongest conventional army in Europe. It notes that last month the German Defense Ministry unveiled a plan to field 460,000 combat-ready personnel by 2039.

German and other EU officials have set 2029 as an initial deadline to be prepared for potential conflict with Russia. The article was widely featured in Russian state media.

The conflict in Ukraine has continued for more than four years without direct military intervention by Western powers sending their own forces. Losses on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides have been reported in the hundreds of thousands. The fighting remains largely stalemated, with Russian forces making slow but steady gains in the east over the past year.

Ukraine has conducted drone strikes deep inside Russia, causing damage to oil refineries and other sites. Some locations have been hit multiple times. Russian air defenses have not prevented these attacks, which have also reached the Moscow region. While the drone operations have had little effect on the frontline situation in the Donbass, they are intended to impose costs on the Russian government and population.