The EU will survive this if there is a dramatic shift in thinking. As the seriousness of what threatens the EU becomes clear, this shift may occur. It must occur, so it might. It is up to everyone. Panic is useless and never helpful. Leaders, societies, people (only) change habits when they face an abyss. Think UK 1939. Except before the big war breaks out. The challenge is to overcome both complacency (“it will not be so serious”) and helplessness (“Europeans are helpless without the US”). Europeans should think more like five million Finns: giving up is no option, however big the neighbor. But “saying” that is no policy either when you have no strategy of civil protection, and not enough artillery. Deterrence is about being serious, not being afraid, and not being predictable. Can Europeans produce and assemble a drone fleet that can destroy what is needed to keep the Russian state operating? Then build it. Ukraine can help. We help Ukraine. Focus minds on concrete goals. Then plan towards these goals. 1. The EU must be ready to deter Russia from any attack on any EU country. Starting now, and definitely two years from now. Produce and assemble what is needed to destroy what is needed to deter a Russian attack. Capture Moscows imagination. 2. Look at what resources can be used. Turn Frontex into an institution of civil defence. Use its current 850 million budget for this. What it is now doing is pretty useless. But there are professionals there we need. And it is in the right place (Warsaw!) 3. Invite the UK (and some in Balkans and Turkey) to participate in European deterrence and rearmament. And join EU single market by 2030. (Perhaps: dissolve most of today’s think tanks. And create institutions that work concretely on what makes European safer, and build resilience. Start something new). @RoryStewartUK @GresselGustav