It is not Russia that threatens Germany and Europe, but the imperialist powers who are the aggressors. The reactionary invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime does not change the fact that NATO systematically provoked the conflict. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO advanced to Russia’s borders despite all assurances, encircled the resource-rich and geopolitically central country militarily and turned Ukraine de facto into a NATO outpost. Since the Russian invasion, the imperialist powers have continually escalated the conflict and are preparing for a direct war against the nuclear-armed power. The German military leadership, in particular, seemingly cannot move fast enough.
Breuer repeatedly emphasises the element of time: “By the end of the decade we must not only have a strong active force, but just as strong a reserve—to be ready for defence and to be able to deter.” In doing so, Breuer clearly names the target which the government and NATO have long since set: Germany and Europe must be capable of waging war against Russia by 2030 at the latest.
This deadline appears verbatim in the “Defence Readiness 2030 Roadmap” adopted at the most recent EU summit, which provides for building a comprehensive war economy in Europe. As the WSWS warned in its commentary on the summit, this “roadmap” means nothing less than the mobilisation of the entire continent for a great war against Russia.