Overview
- Senior officers across Europe warn the continent is living in a gray zone between peace and war, with France’s Gen. Fabien Mandon saying society must be prepared to accept heavy losses.
- Mark Rutte and Britain’s Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton stress that security cannot be left to armed forces alone, calling for broader civilian readiness.
- Breaking Defense reports the Trump administration’s strategy is shifting focus away from Europe and pressing Ukraine toward a ceasefire, with Zelenskyy reportedly dropping a NATO bid in return for security guarantees that critics say favor Moscow.
- European governments increase defense outlays and orders — including Germany’s F‑35s, P‑8s, CH‑47s and Patriot systems — as industry consolidation advances through Airbus‑Leonardo‑Thales space tie‑ups and Lockheed‑Rheinmetall projects.
- Hybrid pressure continues around the Baltic and Gulf of Finland, even as polling shows sharp East‑West divides on war risk and experts warn that a premature ceasefire could let Russia consolidate gains and resume hostilities.