Kathrine Frich
A former NATO official believes the answer lies in direct resistance.
When a neighborhood bully keeps testing the fences, ignoring the problem rarely works.
Governments face a similar challenge on a massive scale when dealing with hostile foreign powers.
The real question is how to push back before the damage spreads.
Testing the limits
Russia continues to launch hidden attacks across Europe. These psychological and disruptive actions leave many wondering exactly how far the country will go.
A former NATO official believes the answer lies in direct resistance. Robert Pszczel spent years as the alliance’s information director in Moscow. He recently spoke to Onet about the current threat.
He explained that President Vladimir Putin knows a full war with NATO countries would fail. Instead, the Russian leader relies heavily on fear and division.
Pushed into a corner
Pszczel told the news outlet that the Russian government is struggling at home. He noted that the public is waking up to empty promises of prosperity.
“It’s not complicated at all. Putin hasn’t achieved his goals in Ukraine, the country is weak, and he’s painted himself into a corner,” Pszczel said.
The former director argued that the ongoing aggression helps the Kremlin distract its citizens.
“So what’s left for Putin now? Of course, mobilizing society through war, through stories that everyone is conspiring against Russia,” he explained to Onet.
Meeting the bayonet
The analyst suggested the West must stop reacting and start punishing these hidden attacks. He pointed to strict prison sentences for saboteurs and real limits on Russian travel across Europe.
“The old Leninist principle is: we push with the bayonet until we meet resistance. In other words, Russia must meet our resistance,” Pszczel told Onet.
He also called for aggressive counterstrikes against the Russian shadow fleet and cyber networks. A simple coast guard response is no longer enough to stop the illegal ships.
“These forces must be greatly reinforced and protected using military means,” Pszczel noted.
No time for weakness
He criticized the current Western approach as lacking real strategy. The former director specifically rejected talk of evacuation plans or extending invitations to Russian leaders.
“For God’s sake, this is not the way to go. We should not allow ourselves to show weakness to the Russians in any way,” Pszczel told the publication.
He warned that the West has barely started to fight the psychological war.
Sources: Onet
