War is raging in Europe: in Ukraine under Russian attack, women and children are fleeing, ordinary citizens are taking up arms, and historic buildings find themselves in ruins. But as always, war is a transitional state between two phases dominated by diplomacy. On the one hand, it derives from the obvious failure of the previous negotiations, and on the other, it aims to broker, on the basis of new positions, a new power equilibrium as opposed to the earlier situation. Therefore the West, including Europe, needs first and foremost to keep a cool head. The reactive steps taken in the midst of overheated emotions can only be adequately gauged according to whether the conflict is being limited or intensified by them and whether they will lead to a post-war security situation that is advantageous or detrimental to us. ...