European Commissioner for the Environment Jessica Rusvall told The Guardian that the European Union should make far greater use of natural landscapes to create built-in barriers along its borders. In her view, nature itself can and should be turned into a tool for strengthening security.

As a concrete example, she pointed to Poland and Finland, both of which share land borders with Russia and Belarus. Rusvall said these countries are already restoring the natural environment in border zones and turning them into difficult terrain for any potential adversary.

She noted that she had personally visited such areas and described how the land is being left in a much «harsher» natural state, with shrubs and trees deliberately preserved. According to Rusvall, this approach makes crossing the border far from straightforward.

The commissioner stressed that the new strategy places particular emphasis on the revival of wetlands. In her assessment, boggy ground forms a natural and highly effective obstacle, through which heavy tanks would struggle to pass.

Her remarks come against the backdrop of broader EU efforts to reinforce its eastern flank. In February, the European Commission unveiled a support plan for nine countries bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, providing for €28 billion to modernise dual-use infrastructure and strengthen border security.