Gerhard Schröder (former Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 for the Social Democrats). has said out loud what in Brussels may only be thought in whispers: in Ukraine, it is about geopolitical power, the weakening of Russia, and an arms industry that incorporates every death into its quarterly figures.

Europe has decided that peace may only be discussed after the war has been won. When that will be, no one knows. Nor does anyone know who will still be alive then. But in Brussels, a civil servant is always standing ready to turn the victory into a PowerPoint presentation in advance.

The formula is simple. More weapons lead to more war. More war leads to a greater need for weapons. That need subsequently proves that all previous deliveries were necessary.

That is called solidarity.

Schröder speaks of prolonging the war. We prefer to call it: “Supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.” A beautiful formulation, because it conceals for what, until when, and how many Ukrainians must die for it.

As long as necessary means: as long as Washington delivers, Brussels pays, and Kyiv buries.

Anyone who says “ceasefire” is subjected to an ideological background check. Does this person have Russian sympathies? Does he consider peace more important than NATO? Before you know it, you are no longer a citizen with a dissenting opinion, but a disinformation campaign wearing shoes.

The media guard the boundaries of acceptable thinking. At talk show tables, generals explain why negotiating is naive. Weapons experts explain which missile truly brings peace. Then a defence specialist appears who has never considered a defence budget too high.

ARD, ZDF, Spiegel, and Bild do not need to receive orders. After years of dressage, the editorial staff naturally walks to the same feeding trough. Criticism becomes betrayal, diplomacy capitulation, and doubt an affliction for“Putin-Versteher”.

The brilliant thing is that this propaganda presents itself as a defence of free speech. Everyone is allowed to say anything, as long as it aligns with the previous speaker.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian cities lie in ruins, men are being sacrificed, and Europe is paying for its obedience. The American arms industry bills. European governments borrow. The citizen pays. Ukraine supplies the blood.

Anyone who asks whether negotiations are wiser than another ten years of destruction faces the moral fire brigade set upon them to stamp out that fire of peace.

Schröder's way out, direct negotiations, involving Russia in a security order, and investigating the propaganda, will be dismissed as unrealistic.

After all, the only thing that prolongs the war is realism.

Thus, Europe became the first continent to view peace as Russian interference, diplomacy as extremism, and endless war as the defence of democracy.

The cannons roar. Stocks rise. And in Brussels, a minute of silence is observed for victims commemorated with the next multi-billion-dollar delivery.