Opinion: Europe Must Act With Unity and Resolve, Not Drift
This opinion piece argues that Europe has met the wars involving Russia and Iran with restraint and an unclear strategy, which is increasingly viewed as weakness rather than strength. It says Moscow and Tehran are raising military pressure because they see a divided West without a credible deterrent or clear end goal. The author urges Europe to assemble, make decisions, and engage.
The opinion was published by Anna Magdalena Wielopolska on Oct. 12, 2026. It places Europe amid two conflicts and argues that Russian and Iranian military pressure has grown because the West appears divided, lacking a defined strategy or final objective beyond containment.
It notes that Washington lifted sanctions on Russian diesel, a move the author says benefits Putin at Ukraine’s expense, and that Trump threatened to withhold military intelligence if Ukraine kept striking Russian oil sites. It adds that European governments opposed Trump’s Iran campaign from the start, and that senators said the diesel deal violated law.
European publics, policymakers, and people in Ukraine and the Middle East could feel consequences if this debate shapes perceptions of deterrence and unity. Citizens in frontline states may face greater uncertainty, while energy consumers could see ripple effects from sanctions decisions. The article’s influence may remain limited to elite discussion, but it could still affect how societies view defense, diplomacy, and transatlantic ties.