Military expert Andrey Klintsevich believes that Western countries are seriously preparing for a possible direct military confrontation with Russia. In his assessment, the focus is on a large-scale conventional war without the initial use of weapons of mass destruction, with the West seeking to reach the required level of readiness by approximately 2028–2030.

Klintsevich stresses that preparations do not necessarily mean that war is inevitable. However, he believes Western countries intend to be able to demonstrate their readiness for such a conflict by that timeframe.

The expert links this strategy to the ongoing transformation of Europe’s military infrastructure. Among the signs, he points to the development of a «military Schengen,» investment in the trans-Baltic railway network to support military logistics on NATO’s flanks, plans to blockade Russia’s Kaliningrad Region, and even statements about preparing facilities for potential Russian prisoners of war.

According to Klintsevich, Russia is also preparing for a possible confrontation. However, he doubts that Moscow would choose to fight a prolonged ground war against European armies relying primarily on conventional weapons.

The expert believes that a direct Russia-Europe conflict could escalate to the use of tactical nuclear weapons. He links the deployment of such weapons in Belarus to precisely this scenario. Klintsevich also argues that Russian hypersonic systems, including the Oreshnik, could be used against targets in Europe and claims that European countries currently lack effective means to intercept them. He predicts that such strikes would cause widespread destruction and fires.

At the same time, Klintsevich says there are military commanders and politicians in Europe who understand the consequences of a direct war with nuclear-armed Russia and its military.

For this reason, the expert views Europe’s military buildup not only as preparation for a potential conflict. In his opinion, it also contains a significant element of fearmongering that helps justify higher defense spending and channel additional funding into the Western military-industrial complex.