If you want to know Russia’s actions, listen to what it accuses others of.

A couple of years ago, we all got used to a constant Russian lament about supposed Western plots to influence Russian society.

In reality, of course, it is Russia that is spending millions of dollars subverting democratic processes around the world.

Later, when the Russian regime was trying to justify its invasion of Ukraine, it alleged a systematic oppression of Russian speakers in the Donbas.

In reality, of course, it is Russia that is today trying to erase the Ukrainian language and cultural identity in the territories that it occupies in Ukraine.

What can we learn from this?

First, that a behavioral pattern like this is often referred to as “projection” in psychology.

And second: that when Putin tells Russian media his country is not planning to fight European countries, but if Europe were to start a war, he is “ready right now”, we should all be worried indeed.

Because Russian hybrid actions are already targeting us in Europe as we speak:

Parcels sent to German logistics hubs that go up in flames. Spy drones hovering over airports and Bundeswehr barracks. Cyber-attacks against key nodes of our civilian infrastructure.

These actions are calling for an adequate response.

Ladies and Gentlemen, colleagues,

It is not a matter of choice that the harsh logic of military deterrence is the main strategic imperative of our time.

It is a matter of fact.

I am glad that in this day and age it is you, Secretary General, dear Mark, whose leadership we count on, on both sides of the Atlantic.

And I am glad that we agreed at our Summit in the Hague to a new Defense Investment Pledge of 5%.

Germany will meet our new spending target well before the 2035 deadline.

This year alone, as many of you well know, Germany made relevant steps towards facing up to our geopolitical reality.

In March, we adapted our Constitution to allow for more adequate military spending.

Last week, the Bundestag passed a reform of our conscription law.

And, importantly, this year, Germany has also become Ukraine’s biggest supporter, in terms of both military and non-military assistance.

At last week’s NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting, together with Norway, Poland and the Netherlands, we announced financing for two additional packages of acquisitions under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, bringing our total contribution to 700 million dollars.

But I also want to say this: more Allies, more Allies in Europe, need to urgently step up.

We are grateful for the United States’ efforts in pursuing a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Relevant progress has been made, with crucial Ukrainian and European involvement, in sketching out key principles for this.

This includes, in particular, securing an end to the war that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and secure from future Russian aggression.

Ukraine has shown remarkable flexibility, most importantly an openness towards an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

But we are yet to see any meaningful Russian readiness to negotiate.

The Russian position today seems to almost boil down to: “if we don’t get for free what we couldn’t get during 11 years of fighting, we won’t even talk”.

That is not a serious negotiating position.

But it is a potent reminder that this war will probably only end when Putin feels that the consequences of continuing it have become too painful.

To get there, there are, in my view, two things that we as European Allies need to do.

First, we need to increase the pressure on Russia.

We need to let Russia know that the costs, especially the long-term costs, of continuing its senseless war, are only about to rise.

Leveraging Russia’s frozen sovereign assets in Ukraine – as proposed by German Chancellor Merz – is a necessary step towards that end.

But secondly, and even more importantly, we need to maintain cohesion within NATO.

For what sets us apart from Russia is this:

We say what we do. We do what we say. And we stand on the side of freedom.

And as free countries, the differences in political outlook that will never cease to exist between us should never drive us apart.

For they are first and foremost this: an important source of our strength.