YES, WE ARE AT WAR WITH RUSSIA

Author Frédéric Mauro

Russia is pursuing its hybrid war strategy aimed at sowing fear in the minds of Europeans. We are at war with Russia, but this war is not a conventional war. It is a war that is ideological in substance and hybrid in form.

It is ideological in its aims, as it is clear that the Russian leader has long harbored a deep desire for historical revenge against what he calls the "collective West," a sentiment he has instilled in the majority of the Russian population. This collective dynamic is driven by the desire to restore Russia's power and influence not only in the "Russian world," but also beyond its borders, particularly against Europe and the states that aspire to be part of it.

Its war aims are clear: divide and conquer; divide Americans from Europeans; divide European states from one another; divide citizens everywhere, all with the ultimate goal of returning Ukraine to its domination, taking advantage of the weakening and disunity of its adversaries.

This war is hybrid in form, as all attacks fall "below the threshold" of open state aggression. Its modus operandi is simple and has been repeatedly demonstrated: sow chaos everywhere. Since 2007, Russia has played on all the strings of hybridity to divide European states, especially the strongest ones like France and Germany, to fuel social divisions, increase political divisions among European citizens, and break the Union as a political entity.

What is currently unfolding in the Baltic countries and on the northern fringes of the Union is simply a notable intensification of Russia's strategy in terms of psychological operations. Could this hybrid war turn into a hot war? Should we fear an entry of Russian forces into the Baltic countries, into Narva in Estonia, or into the Suwalki corridor between Poland and Lithuania? This cannot be ruled out, especially if Russian forces were to retreat into Ukraine, because it would then be tempting for their leaders to take a territorial pledge on European territory, by operating the same nuclear blackmail as that exercised in Ukraine: aggressive sanctuarization.

In any case, the major risk is not seeing Russian tanks roll into Warsaw, and even less so in Berlin. The probable risk is seeing pro-Russian political parties come to power and demolish what gives us strength – the European Union – as has already happened in Hungary and Slovakia and as could happen in Romania, Moldova, and why not in France or Germany. Because then, what good would it do for Putin to invade Europe if he could subjugate it from within by having puppets at his beck and call? That is the real threat.

To combat it, we must remain calm without giving in to provocations, continue to help Ukraine as best we can, and sanction Russia as harshly as we must. We must ensure that European unity is preserved and combat disinformation with all our might, which unfortunately no longer comes only from the East, but also from the West. Developing TikTok, Facebook, X, and other artificial intelligence is just as important, if not more so, than building tanks or fighter jets. In the thick fog of war, we must, like Athena, be clear-sighted in order to discern our true enemies from our false friends.

Most pro-Russian parties in each member country of the European Union. 

Austria

• Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs.  Right.

 Belgium

• Parti du Travail de Belgique . Communist extreme left.
• Vlaams Belang . Extreme right.

 Bulgaria

• Bâlgarska Socialističeska Partija . Socialist left.
• Vazrazhdane (Revival). Nationalist 

 Croatia

• Živi Zid . Difficult to qualify.

 Czech Republic

• Svoboda a Přímá Demokracie . Right.
• Komunistická Strana Čech a Moravy . Communist extreme left.

 Denmark

• Enhedslisten . Extreme left.

 Estonia

• Eesti Keskerakond . Center-left.

 Finland

• Vasemmistoliitto . Extreme left.

 France

• Rassemblement National . Right.
• Reconquête!  Right.
• La France Insoumise  Extreme left.

 Germany

• Die Linke . Extreme left.
• Alternative für Deutschland . Right.

 Greece

• Elliniki Lisi . Right.
• Kommunistikó Kómma Elládas . Communist extreme left.
• Syriza . Communist extreme left.

 Hungary

• Fidesz . Right.

 Ireland

• Independents 4 Change . Socialist left.
• Sinn Féin . Extreme left.

 Italy

• Partido Democratico . Socialist left.

 Latvia

• Latvijas Krievu Savienība . Socialist left.

 Lithuania

• Darbo Partija . Center-left.

 Luxembourg

• Parti Ouvrier Socialiste Luxembourgeois . Socialist left.

 Netherlands

• Partij voor de Dieren . Extreme left.

 Poland

• Nowa Lewica . Extreme left.

 Portugal

• Partido Comunista Português . Communist extreme left.
• Bloco da Esquerda . Communist extreme left.

 Romania

• Partidul Social Democrat . Socialist left.

 Slovakia

• Hnutie Republika . Extreme right.

 Slovenia

• Socialni Demokrati . Socialist left.

 Spain

• Izquierda Unida  Communist extreme left.
• Podemos . Extreme left.

 Sweden

• Vänsterpartiet . Extreme left.

Pro-Russian Right and Far Right Parties  

Austria

• Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs.  Right.

 Belgium

• Vlaams Belang . Extreme right.

Bulgaria

• Vazrazhdane (Revival). Nationalist 

  Czech Republic

• Svoboda a Přímá Demokracie . Right.

 France

• Rassemblement National . Right.
• Reconquête!  Right.

 Germany

• Alternative für Deutschland . Right.

 Greece

• Elliniki Lisi . Right.

 Hungary

• Fidesz . Right.

  Slovakia

• Hnutie Republika . Extreme right.