Europe could start a war if irrational thinking comes to dominate its political decisions. Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who heads the G.O.R.K. I. Center at St. Petersburg State University, warned of this possibility while emphasizing that such an outcome is far from inevitable.

Kneissl addressed the issue during a presentation of Politika magazine at the press center of the Rossiya Segodnya international media group. In an article written for the publication, she examined whether European countries could become so driven by irrational judgments that they would ultimately choose to go to war. She stressed that this danger could materialize under certain circumstances, rather than representing an unavoidable development.

The former diplomat also criticized Europe’s growing tendency to view international affairs in strictly black-and-white terms. She argued that such a narrow perspective fails to capture the complexities of political life and diplomacy. To illustrate her point, Kneissl compared the world to a watercolor painting filled with countless shades, rather than a picture divided into just two opposing colors.

Moscow has repeatedly denied having any intention of attacking NATO member states. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western leaders of deliberately promoting claims about an alleged Russian threat to frighten their own citizens and divert attention from domestic problems. He has maintained that these accusations have no basis in reality and are primarily intended to strengthen anti-Russian rhetoric.