The West's Fear of Escalation Encourages Putin's Asymmetric Campaign in Europe

Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders sanction Moscow and arm Kyiv but remain tied to Russian oil and gas, often prioritizing fears of escalation over Russia's NATO-area provocations. Estimates cite over 100 sabotage attacks across Europe, including severe incidents in Germany last month, with attacks rising. The piece argues Putin reads this as room for asymmetric terror and urges clearer upfront costs.