The newly appointed chief of the general staff of the French army said on Wednesday that he had instructed the country's armed forces to prepare for “shock” from Russiawhich will take place in “three or four years”.
Gen. Fabien Mandon, who heads the general staff of the armed forces, told members of the National Assembly's defense committee that the shock “will be a kind of test.” “This test may already exist in a hybrid form, but it could become more violent” – he explained in a statement published by “Le Figaro”.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that NATO was considering a military response to Moscow's hybrid attacks. The alarm was raised by a series of recent airspace violations by drones and aircraft linked to Russia.
“Russia is a country that may succumb the temptation to continue the war on our continent and this is a critical element of what I am preparing,” said Mandon, who took up the top military post in early September.
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Preparations for the worst-case scenario
Mandon joins a growing number of senior NATO and EU officials warning that Russia is preparing to attack the alliance in the coming years. In 2024, the heads of the German intelligence services stated that Moscow would be able to launch an attack on NATO by 2030.
Last Wednesday, POLITICO reported that it had reviewed the draft military plan known as “The Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030.” [Plan gotowości obronnej 2030]which was presented to the European Commission and states that EU countries have five years to prepare for war.
“Militarized Russia is a persistent threat to European security in the foreseeable future,” the document said.
Mandon said Moscow “sees Europe as collectively weak,” which has led to the Russian side “lifting the brakes against the use of force.”
President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Moscow, October 16, 2025.ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO / AFP
Moscow's target
“To assume that the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is the final attack and that it will not be repeated on our continent is to ignore the risks our societies face,” the general warned. “The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: confrontation with NATO.”
Still, Mandon said, “Europe is the right scale to meet our challenges.” The general theorized that France's desire to rearm would pose a barrier to the Kremlin.
“Russia cannot scare us if we are determined to defend ourselves,” he concluded.
The West has had enough
The international community is aware of the threats decisive action regarding the Kremlin, among others wanting to force him into a ceasefire in Ukraine. The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Russian oil companies on Wednesday. These are the first measures of this type imposed by Washington on Moscow during Donald Trump's second term.
“Given President Putin's refusal to end this senseless war, the Treasury Department is imposing sanctions on two of Russia's largest oil companies that finance the Kremlin's war machine. The Treasury Department stands ready to take further action as needed to support President Trump's efforts to end another war. We encourage our allies to join us and compliance with these sanctions,” we read in the statement.
Moreover, EU member states reached unanimity on Wednesday evening regarding the imposition of the 19th package of sanctions on Russia. It provides for, among others: a ban on importing Russian LNG from 2027. The package also includes a transaction ban for Rosneft and Gazprom Neft and sanctions on further ships from the so-called Russian shadow fleet used to circumvent oil sanctions.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
