The era of diplomatic ambiguity is dead. In a chilling assessment of the continent's security architecture, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has declared that "Russia does not want peace with Europe," signaling a definitive end to the post-Cold War geopolitical order.

Speaking to students at the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, Frederiksen did not mince words. Her warning comes as European capitals scramble to fortify their defences against an increasingly belligerent Kremlin, a shift that is sending shockwaves as far as Nairobi, where the economic fallout of the protracted conflict continues to inflate grain and fuel prices. The Prime Minister's rhetoric marks a pivot from "managing" the Russia problem to actively preparing for a long-term adversarial reality.

"Stick Together" or Perish

"The world order as we know it is over, and I don't think it will return," Frederiksen told the audience, urging Europe and the United States to "stick together" despite emerging fissures. Her comments were underscored by EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, who took the stage to outline a darker future: one where the United States' security umbrella over Europe shrinks, forcing the bloc to attain "independence" in defence.

"Independence doesn't mean going alone," Kubilius clarified, "but building on what is already there, strengthening the European arm of NATO." This urgency is driven by fears that a distracted or isolationist Washington could leave Europe exposed on its eastern flank.

• The Arctic Front: Frederiksen also addressed rising tensions over Greenland, a territory central to Arctic security. "We will try to find a way forward with the US," she said, acknowledging the delicate balance between sovereign interests and alliance obligations.
• The Human Cost: Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, highlighted the anxiety gripping his people: "What we are dealing with... is handling our people who are afraid and scared."
• The African Connection: While the theatre of conflict is European, the script affects Africa. A militarized Europe means redirected aid budgets and a fiercer scramble for African energy partnerships to replace Russian gas.

A New Iron Curtain?

The hardening of stances in Copenhagen and Brussels suggests that any hopes for a negotiated settlement in Ukraine that normalizes relations with Moscow are fading. Instead, Europe is digging in for a generational standoff. For nations like Kenya, which have attempted to maintain a non-aligned stance, the diplomatic tightrope is about to get significantly thinner.

As Frederiksen prepares to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, the agenda is clear: rearmament, resilience, and the grim recognition that peace is no longer the default setting of the European continent.