Russophobia is raging across Europe

Like day and night, New Year is a time of bright optimism and dark prophecies—often about the same issue.

- ANITA PRATAP

The promise of AI bringing prosperity competes with the peril of AI enslaving humanity. Miracle cures are here, but they are no match for malignant variants. Rule of law prevails but flails like a toothless old crone against scams, lobbies and leaders. Peace prospects shine in Ukraine, but dark questions arise about a new, destructive war looming in Europe. Predicts German security expert Hanna Notte, “Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy over the Russian threat.”

European leaders predict an imminent Russian attack on a NATO country. Warns Mark Rutte, secretary general, “We are Russia's next target. [We] must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured.” Richard Knighton, the UK's defence chief, urged British youth to prepare for war should Russia attack Britain. Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius invoked the nostalgia of a tranquil bygone era, “We already had our last summer of peace.”