Selim Ibraimi- “The pressure on Ukraine is now at its peak. Ukraine may face a tough choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner, or an extremely harsh winter,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech broadcast on the X network. The 28-point plan presented by US president Donald Trump puts pressure on Kiev to cede territory, limit the size of the ukrainian army, and promise not to join NATO in exchange for ending the war. So while talks about Ukraine’s fate continue, Russia is playing hardball with the West through propaganda, sabotage, and intelligence. However, the EU, NATO, and other Western alliance structures are doing much to counter Russia’s policies on the concerns expressed on the EU and NATO’s eastern flank, including in the Balkans with states such as Serbia, Srpska Republika, and perhaps even the serbs of Kosovo. In the new situation in which Russia has gained momentum, the Western world is faced with different and similar issues that stem not only from Russia’s aggressive policies.
The new american plan for peace in Ukraine is a major concern for european countries and the United Kingdom. Recently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told German media that the world order that existed for more than eight decades has come to an end. “The world order that existed for the last 80 years in the West and 35 years in the East has come to an end. If we want to shape a new world order, this is only possible together with our European neighbors.” “Russia is waging a terrorist war against the Ukrainian civilian population.
The escalation of russian attacks on ukrainian infrastructure is no longer about military objectives. Therefore, we will do everything we can to support Ukraine’s air defenses,” Merz said. Chancellor Merz’s warnings came after russian drone attacks and sabotage in Poland this week. Chancellor Merz is in line with what US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced in the spring, that Europe must do more for its defense and do it itself. How much more the european member states of the alliance can do for themselves is not known, as they must allocate more budgets for new weapons and technologies without neglecting regular military recruitment.
Thus, the parties participating in Chancellor Merz’s government have agreed on a new military service plan to increase the number of troops. According to german media, the new military service plan will oblige all 18-year-old men to fill out a questionnaire on their suitability to serve and, from 2027, to undergo medical examinations. Increasing the number of troops alone will not be the right measure to protect Europe. The recent explosion on the Polish railway was another shock for NATO, where countries targeted by Russia in particular must be prepared. “The explosion of the railway tracks on the Warsaw-Lublin route is an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed directly at the security of the Polish state and its civilians.
This route is also essential for delivering aid to Ukraine. We will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Meanwhile, off the coast of Great Britain, Russian submarines have become active. UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that a russian spy ship, the Yantar, has been spotted off the coast of Great Britain, north of Scotland. “This is an intelligence-gathering vessel, mapping underwater cables, towing sensors behind it,” he said. Russia’s dangerous movements have also been a concern for Germany. German officials have repeatedly warned that Russia could attack Western countries sooner than expected.
The EU and NATO have, in this context, adopted several measures to prevent and counter russian efforts. The EU and NATO measures have a goal. It remains unknown how they will defend themselves in the event of a larger attack by Russia. However, european countries are moving more this year. “Today’s Military Mobility Package will strengthen Europe’s readiness and ability to act quickly in a crisis. To support the adoption of the latest developments, we are also drafting the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap,” said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
In this area, the EU Council on May 27, 2025, activated the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, which is the new EU financial instrument designed to provide financial support to member states to accelerate defence preparedness by allowing urgent and large-scale investments in support of european industry. defense. Here we should not leave aside “ReArmEurope 2030”, etc., etc. Compared to four years ago, before the Russian invasion, the EU and NATO had an average level of investment in these programs, and were far from preparing for future wars. Now, in 2025, NATO member states are different; they are preparing for a possible war.
Through these programs, european states try to ensure that none of the EU states is surprised by Russian attacks and sabotage. In addition to the military strengthening on the eastern flank of NATO members, the alliance has taken action on the southern flank and in the Balkans, which are equally fragile, starting with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and other areas where non-state actors are active. In the Balkans, there have been some minor developments in North Macedonia, with reports of bombs in schools, and in Kosovo, where the serbian army, with russian hybrid tactics, keeps the situation and the northern border tense.
Some Balkan NATO member states have taken steps to strengthen military relations integrated into “regional alliances”, which are seen as necessary actions, but cannot replace NATO’s power. In this regard, Serbia and its close actors aiming to destabilize hot regions make NATO stand ready. At the moment, there is no major threat, but since the liberal order, especially the US, is following a different approach, the EU, including NATO, should take a central role for the sake of peace without fear of conflicts and future sabotages.
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