Can There Be Peace in Europe? Jan Techau’s 28-Point Plan

1.
Even today, Europe can no longer be defended without Ukraine. It is the Ukrainian army that is preventing Putin from advancing westward.

2.
Europeans must finally support the Ukrainians with all available means. Period.

3.
Even after the war in Ukraine, Europeans must prepare for a long-lasting confrontation with Russia.

4.   
In the foreseeable future, there will be no peace with Russia, only peace against Russia.

5.   
After the war ends, the hard part only starts: Europe must tackle reconstruction so that its eastern flank becomes prosperous and resilient.

6.   
Europe must massively rearm Ukraine so that the country is not invaded by Russia again.

7.   
The new European security order beyond the war in Ukraine should be drafted now.

8.   
In a time of global upheaval, this architecture must be capable of producing much more security with much less America.

9.
You prefer diplomacy? Well, diplomacy means peacefully persuading others to do what they do not want to do. Diplomatic weight comes primarily from power, which is largely derived from military strength.

10.
In the future, Europe’s security will be guaranteed by European countries that have significant military power: France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and perhaps Spain.

11.   
These countries must form a directorate, either within or outside of NATO.

12.   
Europe’s security will not be organized within the European Union. The EU is a leadership avoidance machine. We need the exact opposite.

13.  
If Europe is to take care of its own security, it will not only have to rearm. It will also have to clarify political leadership in Europe.

14.   
The question of leadership is the oldest source of conflict among Europeans.

15.   
Germany is the only European country that still has the financial leeway to build up military strength in the long term by taking on new debt.

16..
A large part of European leadership responsibility will therefore fall to Berlin, whether it wants to or not.

17.   
This will shift the balance of power in Europe in Germany’s favor.

18.   
This shift must be balanced so that historical mistrust does not poison Europe again.

19.   
Berlin must get involved – and lead at the same time. German leadership in Europe can only be servant leadership.

20.
That means: Having a plan. Getting others on board. Not being afraid of yourself. Taking bigger risks than others. Paying more than others. Being the small country’s advocate. If necessary, using power forcefully.

21.
The difference between Berlin and Kyiv is U.S. nuclear weapons. Without the American nuclear umbrella, Germany would be just as vulnerable as Ukraine.

22.   
Europeans cannot replace American nuclear weapons in the long term. And even if they could: no one wants a nuclear arms race in Europe.

23.   
Even the greatest advocates of European strategic autonomy must therefore fight to ensure that American nuclear deterrence remains in Europe.

24.
If Europe takes care of its own security but remains economically weak, it will lose prosperity.

25.   
This will lead to serious domestic political battles over the re-distribution of spending.

26.   
These battles will be extremely fierce; they will bring down governments, and social conflicts will deepen.

27.   
For Merz and Klingbeil, all of this means a gigantic leadership task. The grand coalition must rise above itself. The time for half-heartedness is over.

28.   
And let’s not forget: China is waiting in the wings, an even greater existential threat, but with different means.

Editor’s note: This feature is adapted from a German-language version, which was published in Focus magazine 49/2025 https://www.focusplus.de/politik/ukraine-krieg-mit-diesem-plan-sind-deutschland-europa-zu-retten-7561