

Several countries in Eastern Europe are considering a pre-emptive strike against Russia, according to Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper. The reported development comes despite the Ukraine peace negotiations launched by Moscow and Washington.
https://www.ft.com/content/cd5273ac-ed5b-41ac-ba46-1b0cbdff5c20

According to Kuper, the perceived pivot toward Moscow by US President Donald Trump has brought back the geographical distinctions of the Cold War, namely the idea of “Eastern Europe”, and “Western Europe,” where one sees Russia as an existential threat and the other “isn’t that bothered.”
“We know. That’s why some of our countries are asking, ‘Why don’t we attack Russia now, instead of sitting waiting for it to attack us?’” an unnamed “prominent Eastern European politician” said, without elaborating.
Countries in Eastern Europe were historically often part of larger empires – Russian, German, or Austro-Hungarian – and frequently lost their sovereignty. Czech writer Milan Kundera described this vulnerability as “a small nation can disappear, and it knows it.”
These nations have recently displayed the strongest anti-Russian sentiment and are among the most vocal in calling for bolstered defenses. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, is known for her hawkish views on Russia.