Europe on Trial: Blindness in the Face of Moscow’s Diplomatic Warfare
In her analysis titled Europe on Trial, historian and Sovietologist Françoise Thom issues a solemn warning to the leaders of the European Union. She examines the growing temptation among the Twenty-Seven to renew diplomatic dialogue with the Kremlin, notably following an informal ministerial meeting in Cyprus, under the pretext of not leaving a monopoly on discussions to Washington. The author warns against premature optimism regarding the apparent weaknesses of Vladimir Putin’s regime. She demonstrates how Moscow, capitalizing on a global oil crisis exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East, seeks to grip Europe by the throat on the energy front. According to Françoise Thom, giving in to this diplomatic mirage would amount to an outright surrender, sacrificing Ukraine’s independence and, ultimately, abdicating the very sovereignty of European nations. Reminding us that compromise is structurally impossible with the godfather of the Kremlin, she urges Europeans not to harbor illusions: for Russia, negotiation is merely the continuation of war by other means, the ultimate goal of which remains the eradication of our democratic freedoms.






