Germany Is Done Playing Nice With Putin’s Wrecking Ball in Europe

Merz hasn’t missed a step — and he’s not even Chancellor yet.

“We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is necessary to deter that,” General Carsten Breuer, Germany’s Chief of Defence, is the highest-ranking officer in the Bundeswehr warns.

Breuer says NATO must be ready for the possibility of an attack in as little as four years. “It’s not about how much time I need — it’s about how much time Putin gives us to be ready,” he adds.

“And the sooner we’re prepared, the better.”

As vital as it is for Germany to strengthen its own defenses, it’s just as critical to confront the landmines Putin has planted across Europe. These aren’t hypothetical threats — they’re sitting heads of government. Few things slow Europe down or keep it divided more effectively than Putin’s enablers within the EU.

For years, Viktor Orbán was the lone Kremlin proxy inside the tent. But unchecked, he’s no longer alone. Slovakia’s Robert Fico has now joined the “assist Putin” caucus. Let these two carry on without consequences, and others will follow.

Orbán has spent years sabotaging Europe from within — watering down sanctions packages, delaying aid to Ukraine, and offering Moscow diplomatic cover at every turn. He’s used Hungary’s veto power in the EU to hold common foreign policy hostage, often extracting concessions unrelated to the war. While Ukrainian cities burn, Orbán has shaken hands with Putin, echoed Kremlin talking points, and cast doubt on NATO unity.

Europe’s collective response to Russia could have been faster, stronger, and more coherent — if not for the deliberate obstruction of one man in Budapest.

Take just one example: in late 2023, Orbán singlehandedly blocked the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine assistance package, forcing a months-long standoff that undermined European resolve and gave Putin breathing room. It wasn’t the first time — EU sanctions on Russia must be renewed every six months, and Orbán has repeatedly used that requirement to delay action, demand concessions, and fracture unity within the bloc.