Around the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a blunt assessment: “We are Russia’s next target.” He warned that an attack on NATO territory could occur within the next five years.
The message from Europe’s security establishment is increasingly consistent: the risk is no longer theoretical.
Are Europeans Personally Ready for War?
Despite rising political urgency, public readiness tells a different story.
A recent Euronews poll asked a direct question: Would you fight for the EU’s borders?
Of nearly 10,000 respondents, 75% said no. Only 19% said they would be willing to fight, while 8% were unsure.
These results highlight a growing gap between government planning and public sentiment.
Additional surveys show that concern about Russian aggression is highest in countries closest to Russia. According to a YouGov poll, Russian military pressure is seen as one of the top threats by:
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51% of respondents in Poland
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57% in Lithuania
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62% in Denmark
