A month into Russia's invasion, is the EU ready for the challenge? Russia’s war on Ukraine is clearly an attack on the whole of Europe, but domestic responses are still stuck with the narrative of patriarchal solidarity and the concern for consumer comfort on the home front. Philipp Ther argues for active solidarity, and with it, to prepare for the end of the convenience Europe has known: it may hurt, but without it, the long-term losses to freedom and welfare are likely to be higher. The military attack on Ukraine seems to be stalled around Kyiv and the northern frontlines. The latest Russian announcements suggest the invasion may take a turn. Yet the hopes of the defenders may turn out