worth knowing, especially if you plan to visit some European countries

The article is interesting with lots of information. However, it does make me sad that this is the situation we now find ourselves in.

Who are we going to war with? Trump? Putin? Both?

It makes me wonder about the people of Finland and if there is a constant concern in the backs of their minds about sharing a border with Russia. I was reading another article that soon after the Ukrainian invasion there was fear within the Finnish government that Russia would keep moving into Finland. It makes me wonder if the war memorials I see in European locations have a lot more meaning to them than they do to us.

Allan, yes the memorials have monumental meaning (no pun intended). Both of my parents grew up in countries occupied by the Nazis. My mother and grandparents were liberated by the Canadians which later informed their decision of where they would immigrate to. My entire childhood and young adulthood was filled with that history and its impact on their lives. Finland has a history with Russia along with a long border; Norway has a shorter border but has also been mindful of the history in their region. Trust is earned and easily lost.

It makes me wonder about the people of Finland and if there is a
constant concern in the backs of their minds about sharing a border
with Russia.

Yes, they have shared a border with Russia for as long as Finland has existed. And they are improving the border fence. https://raja.fi/en/the-eastern-border-barrier-fence

A form of those guidelines is supposed to be distributed throughout the EU but I haven't seen one in France yet. All I'm getting are notices of the municipal Vide-Grenier and Pétanque tournament coming up. Then comes the local bike race and then Tour de France, which is passing through Caen, Bayeux, and Vire this year.

Sorry, but the CNN article is unnecessary theatre. Russia can't beat Ukraine, much less NATO.

Hey I have that war readiness booklet the Swedish gov sent it to me lol, I recall them saying never trust info that says Sweden has surrendered because "Sweden will never surrender"!

I watch the channel France 2 news almost every evening. They do some reports on war preparations.
I think I’ll try to stick with vide-greniers and pétanque tournaments, too. Thanks Maggie.

If I were Europe, I'd be seeing lots of parallels with Hitler's takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1939. The main differences I see is in the quality of Hitler's army and generals compared to that of Russia today and the obvious threat that Putin has nuclear weapons.

Emergency Preparedness is never a bad idea.

Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Blizzards, Earthquakes happen.

Recommendations are:

3-days supply of non-perishable food. And don't forget the pets.

2 gallons of drinking water per person per day. And don't forget the pets.

Rx Meds. Including prescription glasses/contacts.

A first-aid kit.

Battery operated flashlights/radios.

Copies of documents like insurance, birth/marriage certificates, passports, SS card.

Know what your emergency evacuation routes are. Much like knowing where the stairs are in your hotel.

Know where you would go in the case of evacuation.

Know how everyone in your family will contact each other in the case of an emergency.

Sure, the "duck and cover" plans in case of nuclear fall-out seem straight out of the cold-war.

But if having that plan makes you more comfortable, make a plan.

Think along the same lines for emergency preparedness while travelling. Even if it is just being stuck on the tarmac for several hours because of an emergency landing at an airport without the customs officials ready to handle folks arriving from a foreign destination.

Do you have enough snacks to stave off hunger for several hours?

Are your Rx meds with you?

However, it does make me sad that this is the situation we now find ourselves in.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. Why is it now that the war is a "situation"? Maybe someone should ask the previous US administration why they didn't resolve the war in the last 3 years.

Who are we going to war with? Trump? Putin? Both?

Europeans learned that attacks can come from both sides - the chance for another one from inside is currently very unlikely. A small hope is that most countries learned that there is nothing to win with war in Europe - together we are very much stronger.

Russia is already carrying out an extensive hybrid war against some European countries, also Germany. The US intelligence services are active also partly against European countries.

Travel related I would recommend all travelers to Europe to install warning apps of destination countries to participate in warnings from severe situations - sometimes very local. Example is NINA warn app for Germany. KATWARN is an international approach.

I agree with other comments here that preparing for emergencies is always a good idea. In North America, the possibility of war is extremely remote but natural disasters are always a possibility.

As the situation in Ukraine stands now, I don't think it's likely that European countries will be invaded. However, if Russia were to win the conflict, that would change the situation.

Here in B.C., there are regular reminders for people on the south coast and Vancouver Island to keep at least three days of emergency supplies on hand, in order to be ready for "the big one" (earthquake) which could happen at any time (it's long overdue!). Unfortunately, I suspect that the majority of people in that area are not taking the warnings seriously, or at best buying the ridiculously small "emergency kits" offered in hardware stores or wherever. I've been under "evacuation alert" once in the last few years due to wildfires, but thankfully that was never upgraded to an "order". I'm fairly well equipped with emergency supplies above and beyond those recommended, especially first aid supplies ;-) so I'm about as prepared as I can be.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022.

Russia invaded Ukraine in2014; when it took Crimea, which it specifically agreed not to do in the Minsk Agreements depriving Ukraine of nucs. The inability of the EU to enforce that agreement helped cause this latest conflict, which, since they no longer had the nuclear deterrent, Ukraine has been hard pressed to retain. Cheap gas for the EU = thousands of dead. And it's going to cost Trillions.

The simple fact is that there is no country in the EU with the ability, weapons or personnel, in the EU that can stop Russia without the US forces. The industry isn't prepared, but worse, after 70 years of developing a mindset that the military is just another social program there's a major readjustment required. And it takes 2-5 years to train someone to do the job of a modern soldier, provided you can recruit them, which the EU can't (they haven't met recruiting goals in decades.)

The OP's article, and the pamphlets mentioned, are part of the readjustment of the mindset, and an acknowledgement of the need for such.

Regarding tourism.

If you are afraid of being swept up in a war on holiday, wars these days take months of maneuvering prior to a start. Well except for the occasional missile strike. That maneuvering is hard to hide so there will be plenty of warning. Weeks if not months.

If you wanted to be super cautious in your travels, then stay out of State Department Level 3 and 4 countries. Right now in Europe that is Russia (4), Belarus (4) and about half of Ukraine (4) and half (3).

Next on the list I would put countries where Russia is trying to stir up rebellion. Which in addition to Moldova includes Romania and the Serbia/Kosovo/Bosnia & Herzegovina region. Better yet, go see them now, while you still can.

Still more cautious? Russia has indicated it wants the former Soviet Republics back. That would add to the list to stay away from the countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldavia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia.

Next on the caution list might be the other countries that border Russia. So add Poland and Finland to the list. Also might be wise to stay away from the countries that the Russian government has suggested could be nuked and the Russian news media has insisted should be nuked. That would be France and the UK (and the US of course). https://youtu.be/nurX85gicZk?si=Q9duJGgGeVx5M0uU https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1732257334298633600/putin-threatens-uk-with-new-ballistic-missile-as-ukraine-war-escalates.aspx

Naturally, everyone should be traveling with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Ready-America-70285-Emergency-2-Person/dp/B00A387958?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Russia invaded Ukraine in2014; when it took Crimea, which it
specifically agreed not to do in the Minsk Agreements depriving
Ukraine of nucs. The inability of the EU to enforce that agreement
helped cause this latest conflict, which, since they no longer had the
nuclear deterrent, Ukraine has been hard pressed to retain.

KGC, that is incorrect on two points. First, the Minsk Agreements were a 2019 attempt to end the war in Donbass. The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances signed in 1994 by the US (with President Clinton in the White House), the Russians (Yeltsin) and the UK (Major) guaranteed the sovereignty of Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan in exchange for them giving up their nuclear weapons (shipping them to russia).

Second, the EU was not a signatory to the either the Budapest or the Minsk agreement, so they were not obliged to “enforce” but they did have the ability to if they had wanted.

Both the Minsk and the Budapest were violated by Russia. The Budapest Agreements were violated by russia in 2014 (Putin) and the other signatories, the UK (Cameron) and the US (Obama) ignored their obligation and looked the other way precipitating the situation the world faces today.

The simple fact is that there is no country in the EU with the
ability, weapons or personnel, in the EU that can stop Russia without
the US forces.

And yet Ukraine holds on without US forces? But to say no single European country has the ability without the US is misleading. The concept of NATO is that no single European country will have to do it alone. The Europeans combined have a pretty good start at self-defense. Roughly equal to the US in equipment and forces. https://armedforces.eu/compare/country_European_Union_EU_vs_USA

Wow!!! Lots of thoughts/opinions posted as I wake up this morning.

Just a reminder that the intent of my post was to share what might be on the minds of citizens of countries to which you may be planning to travel.

If we were all to debate how things could have been done differently or what/how the future may play out.......gosh, that is a debate that could last for months and months and months....and quite possibly one none of us could accurately predict. Shutting down key infrastructure (electrical/communication grids, etc.) was not something that was a primary risk in previous wars.....war can look different in the future.....but that is not the purpose of my sharing the CNN article.

So, again, just a worthwhile read.....to be aware what MIGHT be on the minds of people in host countries as you travel................

Safe travels. Take those trips while you can...one never knows what the future might bring...health, safety and on and on. Travel memories are precious memories!!

Maggie, your post was fine.

People are just now feeling the real effects of war and tighter immigration policies on their personal travel and it is upsetting to them. I cannot imagine living in Ukraine or Russia or any war zones. If the worse that happens to me as a traveler is I have to visit another country or it takes me 2 hours to get through immigration, I'll take that over being in that situation any day.

Maggie, Like I said above ... good post Some people travel to experience the culture and its hard to do that if you dont have any idea of the influences on the clultrue. I just call it background color. Very good reading.