The former commodore of the British Royal Navy Steve Jermy evaluated that Europe is not ready to sustain a high-intensity war with Russia and that a strategy based solely on deterrence is pushing the continent into a dangerous deadlock. He advocated for the immediate resumption of diplomatic channels with Moscow, including through informal means, and suggested that practical solutions for security and energy need to return to the center of the debate.In an interview with the Neutrality Studies Français channel with host Pascal, the interviewee Steve Jermy said that in light of the strategic priorities of the United States, Europeans need to realistically face their own limits and responsibilities. According to Jermy, recent American security documents indicate that Washington has higher priorities outside the continent, which reinforces the need for a European approach to reduce risks, rebuild trust, and open direct talks with Russia.Jermy pointed out weaknesses in European air defense capabilities and was direct in assessing the United Kingdom: the UK would not be able to properly defend itself against certain attack systems, those that require detection and resource allocation in very short time windows. For him, there is little social appetite for a wide-ranging war with Russia, which makes it even more urgent to replace escalation rhetoric with a clear roadmap for negotiations and risk reduction measures.When asked where to start, Jermy suggested immediately activating so-called second-track diplomacy, involving experts and former authorities capable of breaking the ice and preparing the ground for official contacts. He also advocated for holding a peace conference and adopting confidence-building measures under the auspices of the OSCE, acknowledging that they would be difficult conversations but necessary to get out of the current deadlock.The former commodore stated that part of the European fatigue derives from an energy problem, not just from the cost of living. In his words, the dominant perception ignores that today’s crisis is essentially an energy crisis, which would require robust investments in infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, instead of simply doubling military spending. As an economic gesture capable of unlocking dialogue, Jermy suggested the lifting of sanctions against Russia, although he recognizes the high political cost of such a decision.Throughout the conversation, Pascal challenged the interviewee about neutrality and about who could lead an agenda for relaxation in the continent. Jermy responded that a European initiative would be desirable and that semi-official platforms could pave the way for broader understandings. According to him, as important as the formal mechanisms is how each side perceives the other, a factor that, if poorly managed, fuels distrust and increases the risk of miscalculation.For Jermy, the balance between security and economic stability comes through gradual and verifiable steps. He emphasized that Europe must recognize military and political limits, communicate these limits transparently to the populations, and anchor any negotiation in concrete security measures. The objective, he concluded, is to reduce tensions and create conditions for a sustainable agreement that returns predictability to the continent.