In a stark and urgent interview on Euronews’ Europe Today, Estonian MEP and former Army General Riho Terrasdelivered a blunt assessment of the geopolitical moment: “Americans believe everything Putin says.” His warning, directed at both European and U.S. audiences, underscores what he views as a dangerous erosion of Western resolve at a time when Russia is intensifying efforts to reshape global narratives and destabilize Western democracies.
Terras—one of the European Parliament’s most outspoken voices on defense, disinformation, and Russian aggression—emphasized that the crisis facing the West extends far beyond Ukraine’s borders. In his view, many in Europe and the United States underestimate the scale of the threat, misunderstand its implications, and remain dangerously susceptible to misinformation that serves the Kremlin’s strategic goals.
His message is clear: Russia’s war is not only on the battlefield; it is psychological, political, and informational—and too many Western citizens are falling for it.
“It Is Not Only About Ukraine”: A Broader War for the Future of Europe
At the heart of Terras’ interview is a warning that the war in Ukraine is merely one component of a much larger confrontation. The Kremlin’s objective, he argues, is not just to seize territory, but to dismantle the foundations of European security and weaken the democratic alliances that have defined the post–Cold War order.
Terras stresses three main points:
1. Russia’s ambitions extend toward NATO’s eastern flank
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are all within Moscow’s long-term sphere of interest. Terras argues that failing to stop Russia in Ukraine increases the likelihood of future aggression in Eastern Europe.
2. The Kremlin wants to break Western unity
Russia’s propaganda seeks to divide Europe from the United States, divide EU member states from one another, and divide Western societies internally.
3. Ukraine is the frontline of a global ideological clash
Terras emphasizes that what happens in Ukraine will determine the security architecture of Europe for decades.
His appeal is not only for solidarity—it is a reminder that passivity could carry catastrophic consequences.
The Disinformation Problem: “Americans Believe Everything Putin Says”
Terras’s most controversial remark reflects a deeper worry: the rising influence of Kremlin-backed narratives within U.S. political discourse.
While Terras acknowledges that many Americans support Ukraine, he argues that:
- Russian propaganda has successfully infiltrated parts of U.S. media,
- Kremlin talking points are echoed by influential political figures,
- online disinformation spreads unchecked across social platforms,
- and broader political polarization makes Americans more susceptible to foreign manipulation.
Key Kremlin narratives gaining traction include:
- “Ukraine is losing the war.”
- “Supporting Ukraine is too expensive.”
- “Peace requires concessions from Kyiv.”
- “NATO provoked Russia.”
- “The war does not concern the United States.”
Terras warns that these narratives, whether shared intentionally or unknowingly, serve Russia’s strategic objective: weakening U.S. support for Ukraine and fracturing the Western alliance.
A Divided West: The Cost of Misunderstanding the Threat
Terras expresses frustration that many Europeans—and some Americans—still do not grasp the immediacy of the danger posed by Russia’s expansionist agenda.
European complacency
While Eastern European states view Russia as an existential threat, many Western European activists, politicians, and voters see the war as a distant problem or a regional conflict rather than a European crisis.
U.S. political gridlock
In Washington, debates over Ukraine funding have become entangled with domestic political battles, allowing Russian narratives to influence legislative processes.
The illusion of distance
Many people in both regions believe that the war has no bearing on their daily lives, failing to see the broader implications for:
- energy security,
- global food supply chains,
- trade routes,
- the rules-based international order,
- and the stability of NATO.
Terras argues that this complacency emboldens Russia and increases the risk of a wider conflict.
Terras’s Core Warning: Deterrence Fails When Democracies Falter
Drawing on his military background, Terras emphasizes a simple principle: Russia advances when the West hesitates.
He points to historical patterns:
- The invasion of Georgia in 2008
- The annexation of Crimea in 2014
- The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Each episode revealed a consistent truth: when Russia sees weakness, confusion, or division, it pushes further.
Thus, Terras argues:
- Ukraine must receive long-term military support, not short-term political improvisation.
- Europe must strengthen defense spending and readiness.
- The U.S. must maintain its leadership role, not retreat inward.
- Disinformation must be countered swiftly and aggressively.
His message is one of urgency, but also of strategy.
Why Estonia’s Voice Matters
As a former Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Terras speaks from the vantage point of someone who has lived at the edge of NATO’s most volatile border. Estonia, like its Baltic neighbors, has spent decades preparing for the possibility of Russian aggression.
The country’s experience offers lessons for all of Europe:
- Deterrence works only when backed by hard power.
- Small nations must invest in resilience and rapid mobilization.
- Democracies must remain vigilant against disinformation.
- Unity among allies is non-negotiable.
Terras’s credibility stems from the fact that Estonia has navigated these pressures successfully while being one of the most cyber-secure and militarily prepared small nations in the world.
A Call for Strategic Clarity: What Terras Wants Europe and the U.S. To Do
Terras outlined several concrete actions necessary to counter Russia’s expanding influence:
1. Increase Military Aid to Ukraine
Support must be consistent, predictable, and large-scale—not reactive.
2. Strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank
Baltic states, Poland, and Finland need reinforced deterrence capabilities.
3. Intensify Counter-Disinformation Efforts
Russia’s information warfare must be treated as seriously as cyberattacks.
4. Invest in Defense Production
Europe must modernize and expand its defense industrial capacity, which is currently lagging.
5. Maintain Transatlantic Unity
The U.S.–EU relationship is the backbone of global democratic stability.
Conclusion: Terras’s Warning Is a Wake-Up Call for the West
Riho Terras’s interview is not alarmism—it is a sober assessment from someone who has spent his career studying and countering Russian military strategy. His warning that “Americans believe everything Putin says” is not a critique of the United States as a nation, but a call to recognize how deeply disinformation has penetrated Western societies.
In Terras’s view, the fight for Ukraine is the fight for Europe—and the fight for the credibility of democratic alliances. If the West allows itself to be divided, misled, or fatigued, the consequences will extend far beyond the battlefield.
“It is not only about Ukraine,” Terras insists.
It is about the future of Europe, the resilience of democracies, and whether the world’s leading nations can withstand a sustained assault on truth, unity, and sovereignty.
His warning is clear: the West must wake up before it is too late.
