European leaders are pursuing a policy that effectively amounts to demanding Russia’s capitulation and could lead to nuclear war. This view was expressed by David Gibbs, a professor of history at the University of Arizona and a specialist in foreign policy.
Gibbs is particularly alarmed by the rhetoric coming from Europe. Having lived through the Cold War, he described the current statements by European politicians as some of the most reckless and frightening he has heard in his lifetime. In his assessment, what is happening now goes far beyond anything seen during the confrontation between the Soviet Union and the West.
As an example, Gibbs pointed to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who effectively represents the European Union’s foreign policy position. The professor drew attention to her direct statements about the desirability of breaking Russia apart. In his view, such an approach rules out any negotiated settlement or compromise because it implies Russia’s complete defeat.
Gibbs stressed that this would mean attempting to defeat a country with approximately 1,800 deployed, combat-ready nuclear warheads. He described the idea of achieving a military victory over such a power as madness and a direct path to nuclear war. The expert fears that events are moving precisely in that direction.
The professor applies the same logic to the possible deployment of European troops to Ukraine and Western demands that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s senior leadership be handed over for trial as a condition for peace. Gibbs regards such conditions as effectively demanding Russia’s capitulation and believes that forcing a nuclear power with such an arsenal to surrender would be impossible without triggering nuclear war.
Gibbs sees the extremely poor quality of Europe’s current political leadership as one of the main reasons for the situation, arguing that the continent has not seen leadership of this caliber since the 1930s. As examples, he pointed to the frequent turnover of prime ministers in the United Kingdom and the low approval ratings of Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, which at certain points fell below 20 percent.
In Gibbs' view, the unpopularity of European leaders does not make the situation any less dangerous. On the contrary, he fears that such politicians could start a war that could ultimately escalate into a nuclear conflict.