Nigel Gould-Davies

Russia’s war in Ukraine is midwife to a revolution in military affairs. Such revolutions arise from new technologies that do not merely confer an advantage, but transform the way strategists think about, and armies fight in, the battlespace. They are fundamental events in military history and thought. Three such revolutions marked the previous century. Each began with breakthroughs at the end of one war and came to define the character of the next. The tank and airplane were first used together in 1917-18 and proved decisive in 1940. The ballistic missile and atomic bomb appeared in 1944 and 1945 respectively, and laid the foundations for Cold War nuclear deterrence.

The European Union has just imposed a visa ban on serving and former Russian soldiers. Implementation will not be easy – how do you tell if an applicant has served in the military? – but the principle is sound: those fighting for a state that threatens Europe should not expect to holiday there. This revives a broader debate. Who from Russia should Europe admit? Russia launched the largest invasion in Europe since 1945. It is conducting a campaign of espionage, sabotage and assassination across the continent. Its leaders openly describe relations as a state of war. In these conditions, immigration policy is an integral part of security. Europe welcomed genuine political dissidents during the Cold War, and should continue doing so. But some argue Europe should go further.