EU Escalates Tensions With Russia While Urging Citizens To Prepare For Disaster

As European Union officials continue advancing toward a potential conflict with Russia, they are now telling people across the continent to prepare for emergencies by building 72-hour survival kits. The message was delivered this week by Hadja Lahbib, the EU’s Commissioner for Crisis Management, who outlined the items citizens should have on hand in case of a crisis.

The announcement follows a steady increase in military preparations among EU countries, including an €800 billion initiative known as ReArm Europe. That project will fund missile systems, cybersecurity programs and defense equipment, making it one of the largest military build-ups in Europe’s modern history.

Rather than reconsidering their confrontational foreign policy, EU leaders are also looking at post-war plans that involve putting European troops into Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron has been one of the most vocal supporters of such proposals. Russia has warned that foreign military forces in Ukraine would not be tolerated.

Lahbib said that Europeans should be able to support themselves for three days without help. She listed food, water, flashlights and medicine among the basic items people should keep ready. France, Finland and Sweden have all adopted similar strategies in recent months, including updated civil defense guidance.

Germany is considering turning properties into shelters that could withstand a nuclear event. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has ordered mandatory military training for men and floated the idea of nuclear armament. He argued that disarming like Ukraine did would be a grave mistake.

Friedrich Merz, expected to take over as Germany’s next chancellor, has proposed deeper nuclear defense cooperation with France and the U.K. That would mark a significant change from Germany’s traditional defense approach.

Russia and the United States hold the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, with over 5,000 warheads each. The number dwarfs the total held by European powers such as France and the U.K.

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