Russia-Europe: who wants war ?

Norway has seized a Russian cruise ship at the request of Ukraine’s energy company Naftogaz, marking a new step toward enforcing an arbitration ruling against Russia. The vessel, Professor Molchanov, was detained at Svalbard in the Arctic, according to Naftogaz. The move aims to enforce a decision that found Russia liable for $422 million in damages due to the illegal seizure of assets during Crimea’s annexation in 2014. Naftogaz interim director Sergii Fedorenko called the action “a new stage towards restoring justice” following the unlawful asset confiscation. He added that efforts will continue to locate Russian assets globally until full compensation is paid. The United States is negotiating with Ukraine over a license to produce Patriot missile systems, which Kyiv urgently needs to counter Russian attacks. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this is not an immediate solution. In an interview, he emphasized that increasing production requires years of setup and that these weapons are highly sophisticated. While negotiations are ongoing, Rubio noted the issue does not resolve the urgent challenges faced by Ukrainian forces in the short term. Belgium reaffirmed its opposition to using frozen Russian assets within the European Union to fund aid for Ukraine. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that the proposal, backed by Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland, had little enthusiasm among EU members. Belgium, which holds the largest portion of frozen Russian assets, reiterated its stance that the idea should not be revived. The EU previously abandoned the plan in December, opting instead for a €90 billion loan guaranteed by the European budget. Ukraine plans to introduce a new air-attack warning system to distinguish between drone and missile strikes, aiming to reduce confusion caused by increased Russian bombing. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the system would feature two alert levels, yellow for drone attacks and red for missile threats, with distinct sound signals. Weekly assessments by military authorities will determine specific indicators triggering each level. Tensions between Germany and Russia have escalated, with Moscow threatening to respond to German sanctions with a “direct strike.” Reports indicate that Germany accuses Russia of being responsible for a failed attack at Leipzig Airport, though no conclusive evidence has been established. German officials remain confident in their attribution, while Russian media claims the escalation stems from internal political issues in Germany. The situation has raised concerns across Europe, with some fearing further destabilization. Meanwhile, the German government faces pressure to avoid inflaming nationalist sentiments ahead of regional elections, particularly in areas where some voters still show sympathy for Russia. European leaders are increasingly concerned about a “hybrid war” strategy by Russia, which seeks to divide and weaken the bloc through disinformation and targeted attacks. Some analysts suggest that Moscow’s actions could exacerbate divisions, especially in regions with mixed political sentiment. The situation remains volatile, with no clear resolution in sight.