Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned of a “real” possibility of violence in Europe, claiming that the continent has returned to a “pre-war era” for the first time since World War II ended.
“War is no longer a concept from the past. It is real, and it started over two years ago. The most worrying thing at the moment is that literally any scenario is possible. We haven’t seen a situation like this since 1945,” Tusk said in an interview with the European media grouping LENA on Friday.
“I know it sounds devastating, especially for the younger generation, but we have to get used to the fact that a new era has begun: the pre-war era. I’m not exaggerating; it’s becoming clearer every day.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago shattered European leaders’ perceptions of unbreakable postwar peace, driving many countries to ramp up arms manufacturing to equip both Kiev and their own forces.
Former European Council President Tusk, whose country has been one of the most vocal backers of neighboring Ukraine, said Friday that if Kyiv loses, “no one” in Europe will feel safe.
The continent is also concerned about the likely return of former US President Donald Trump, whose openly anti-NATO stance has created doubts about the reliability of American military aid if he is re-elected in November.
“Our job is to nurture transatlantic relations, regardless of who the US president is,” Tusk said in the interview.