

With the The return of the prime ministership to tycoon Andrej Babis, the Czech Republic joins the disturbing Trumpist and at the same time Putinist sphere of the European Union. A Trojan horse that grows and becomes stronger. Look where, Andrej Babis comes, like the Hungarian Viktor Orbán, from the old communist nomenclature, and can understand perfectly with the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. All three have the same origins and know that preventing or obstructing aid to Ukraine is the best way to obtain Russian gas, even if the price to pay is to weaken the EU further.
Babis's arrival contrasts with the continuity in power, in the elections two weeks ago, of the Moldovan President, pro-European Maya Sandu. It makes one think that Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is not giving in to Putin's siege: power grids have exploded, gas supplies have been cut by 50% and 2,000 Russian soldiers in the Transnistria region, always ready for an assault. And meanwhile, Brussels only sends Maia Sandu promises of support for EU accession.
While Moldova will continue to stagger with its soul in its heart, Hungary, Slovakia, and now the Czech Republic will not have to suffer watching Russian drones fly over, as several EU states have in recent weeks. What is Putin trying to do? Is he just trying to scare people? Is he bragging? What is the expected path of this hybrid war? According to Timothy Garton Ash, the Kremlin is dedicated to detecting Europe's weak points, combining strategic simplicity with tactical flexibility. The British professor does not see the Russian army crossing European borders.
For other analysts, what interests Putin is observing and measuring the degree of commitment that NATO members maintain among themselves. And also generating fear to use it for his own benefit. More than an analysis, the vision of exiled Russian dissident Garry Kasparov is a prediction when he says that Putin is testing Europe and will launch a ground invasion before the end of the year. These disturbing words connect with those of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who stated that Europe is experiencing the most difficult and dangerous situation since World War II. Or with the French political leader and philosopher Raphaël Glucksmann, when he wonders if it is necessary for the Russian air force to raze Warsaw for Europe to react.
And Europe, powerless while NATO command is in Trump's hands and the Trojan horse of its enemies grows within it, doesn't quite know what to say or do. Some €210 billion of Russian assets remain frozen, but Brussels hasn't taken the step of seizing them and transforming them into aid for Ukraine. The Russian reaction is frightening: the Kremlin has announced it would respond by seizing all EU assets at hand.
Nevertheless, some hopeful European initiatives remain, such as bypassing the Brussels institutions and convening, at key moments, the Coalition of the Willing—based in Paris and London—to circumvent the vetoes of Hungary, Slovakia, and the Slovak Republic. But circumventing vetoes is nothing more than an intention. It's as if Europe has woken up very slowly and hasn't yet opened its eyes. And the question is: what must happen for the EU—the Commission and also Parliament—to finally decide to remove Orbán, Fico, and Babis from their decision-making and voting rights? The EU is risking its soul, and perhaps also its life. A shock would always be better than trying to prolong a conflict with a known outcome.