British News Agency

Just days after Vladimir Putin claimed that his country is “ready right now” to confront Europe, a new survey reveals that more than two-thirds of Europeans do not believe their nations could defend themselves militarily against a potential Russian attack.

Of the 9,500 respondents surveyed across nine EU member states by Cluster 17 for Le Grand Continent, 69% said they do not trust their country’s ability to successfully defend its territory against a Russian attack.

France showed the highest confidence in its military capabilities (44%), although a majority (51%) still held a negative view. The lowest levels of confidence—over 85% expressing doubt—were recorded in Belgium, Italy and Portugal.

The authors of the survey note that geography plays a role: countries that feel less capable tend to be those geographically farthest from Russia, and therefore least likely to face direct military confrontation with Moscow.

The survey was published just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Europe, saying his country is “immediately ready” to fight if “Europe wants to fight us and starts it.”

It was conducted in France, Croatia, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium, at a time when Europe is channeling hundreds of billions of euros into defense spending as part of a major rearmament effort.

However, the lack of confidence in confronting Russia shows that many statements by EU member states and the European Commission regarding strengthening Europe’s military capabilities are not resonating with large parts of the public.