That is arguably incorrect and a matter of perception. Europe was perceived to be safer and more powerful 25 years ago. But is in fact, safer and more powerful now than it was then. Are you safer if the dependencies are unknown or if they're known and people are talking about them? Are you safer if you believe the US will have your back, not knowing that it won't really, or are you safer with better knowledge on how far support will go?

The EU countries are, right now, pumping up their military budgets. Russia has just spent several years destroying it's huge stock of soviet era equipment. 25 years ago, that equipment was in better shape and the EU was reducing military budgets all over the place, and Ukraine was closer to Russia's sphere of influence - potentially far less safe but nobody knew it?