KYIV — Russia's Vladimir Putin is preparing for a broader confrontation with Europe amid an uptick in the Kremlin's hybrid attacks on the continent, Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has warned. In an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, Kuleba, who was Ukraine's foreign policy chief from 2020 to 2024, said that Russia's continued war preparations and anti-European propaganda are signs that Putin is planning attacks on other European countries. "Anti-European hysteria is being fueled in Russia, which I interpret as the preparation for a broader conflict with the rest of Europe," said Kuleba, before adding: "We [Ukrainians] don't have to drag you — Putin will drag you into the war." European officials say Moscow has upped its hybrid campaign across the continent in recent months, using cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation to disrupt critical infrastructure and weaken support for Ukraine.
Kuleba said the failed drone attack on the Leipzig airport in Germany in August was a sign of "growing preparation" for an offensive on the continent. "They see how your intelligence operates. They see how your security forces operate.
They see how you react and they draw conclusions," he added. In the aftermath of the incident, the German government concluded that Moscow was responsible for the attack, and ordered a review of security around sensitive locations. However, Kuleba, who stood down as Ukraine's foreign policy chief in September 2024, does not think Russia is preparing a full-scale offensive beyond Ukraine.
In his view, Moscow is more likely to launch an attack on NATO countries involving drones targeting key infrastructure that would test the alliance's unity and preparedness. "The truth is that Russia does not need 400,000 more people to wage that war. It needs five drones," he said, adding that in the event of an attack, "[Europeans] can call for NATO consultations... can call for restraint.
But this will only encourage Putin to make the next step ... He will always have enough drone and missile capabilities." Kuleba no longer believes Putin can be persuaded to end the war through negotiations. "He's not looking for a solution, for a pause, and there will be no moment when he will start looking for it," he said, concluding: "Putin is a guarantee of war: anyone after Putin is a chance for peace." According to Kuleba, any attempts at negotiating with Putin, or pushing for peace, are a waste of time.
"The sooner we come to terms with reality, the better policies we can develop to address it," he said. He noted that while Europe’s political culture is based on "a win-win approach" in which both sides can benefit, Putin’s outlook is very different: “For him, a solution that benefits both sides is not the best option. For him, the world works on the principle of victory and defeat.
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