Russia is using drone attacks to test the reactions of Europe and the United States, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
“Weakness does not produce dialogue with Russia. For the ‘Russians,’ it is simply weakness. And that means they can impose their narratives. That is what is happening. So, answering the question of what all this — violations of European airspace by drones in various countries — really is: these are tests. Tests of Europe, tests of their response. All these drone attacks by Putin are tests to see what they are capable of,” Zelensky said.
He added that the attacks also test how the United States will respond to the current threat to European NATO countries.
“There is no smoke without fire, and I consider all these tests dangerous for the integrity of Europe,” the President emphasized.
Zelensky stressed that Russia dislikes weakness.
“Any intellectual responses — which Europe provides — are seen as weakness by Russia. Weakness gives that Russian taste. The Russians sense this weakness and want, while no one has yet gained strength, to pressure, inflict harm, and gain some additional benefit for themselves,” he noted.
Regarding Ukraine, the benefit for Russia, he said, is “to prevent Ukraine from developing, to destroy its identity and lands.” In the energy sector, targets include Slovakia, Hungary, Eastern Europe, and Germany — keeping everyone on a constant energy hook.
Zelensky emphasized that Europe is still afraid of the word ‘escalation’ and reminded that
“it is not Europe at war with Russia, but Russia at war with Ukraine and, hypothetically, with many in Europe.”
