Norwegian commentator Pål Steigan has warned that a direct armed conflict with Russia could have devastating consequences for European countries.

After reviewing recent statements by European politicians and coverage in Western media, Steigan concluded that Europe is actively preparing for the possibility of war.

He pointed to increasingly frequent warnings from European officials about a potential confrontation with Moscow and to broader preparations for a crisis scenario. At the same time, Steigan argued that efforts to prevent further escalation remain insufficient.

In his assessment, European governments are devoting far more attention to preparing for conflict than to discussing how it could be avoided or how peace might be achieved. He accused political leaders of intensifying what he described as a climate of military alarm and warned that a direct war with Russia could become a historic catastrophe for Europe.

Russia, for its part, has repeatedly voiced concern over the expansion and strengthening of NATO's military presence in Europe. Moscow has also said it remains open to dialogue based on equal treatment while opposing further militarization of the continent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow does not intend to attack European countries. He has argued that warnings about an inevitable Russian attack are used by Western politicians to justify higher military spending and divert attention from domestic problems.