Europe’s political mainstream has become so focused on confrontation with Russia that it has virtually eliminated alternative approaches to relations with Moscow, according to political scientist Vadim Avva.

In his assessment, European countries have created a system in which senior government positions are primarily occupied by politicians with fiercely anti-Russian views. At the same time, they continue fueling fears of a «Russian threat,» gradually pushing themselves into a position where they will no longer be able to abandon the path of confrontation.

As examples, Avva cited Radosław Sikorski’s call for NATO to conduct aggressive exercises near Kaliningrad that, in his view, would be difficult to distinguish from an actual attempt to attack the Russian exclave. He also pointed to plans by the Baltic states and Finland to deploy nuclear weapons on their territory.

Avva described Russophobia as a modern form of Nazism. He argued that Europe effectively denies Russia the right to have its own national interests and treats Russians in the same way Nazi Germany treated Jews. In his view, European countries created this political reality themselves and ultimately became part of it.

The political scientist believes this process has left European elites prepared to move from constant talk of confrontation to a direct military conflict with Russia.

Avva said one way to halt further escalation would be for Russia to resume nuclear testing. In his view, the West and its population need to see the potential consequences firsthand, and he currently sees no other way to demonstrate Russia’s military capabilities that could compel Europe to de-escalate.