EU foreign policy chief warns of possible Russian sabotage in Europe

Kaja Kallas urges member states to remain vigilant and take preventive measures

“We see in the intelligence that Russia is planning more sabotage acts and attacks against our democracy to divide our society, to intimidate our societies from refraining to help Ukraine,” Kallas said ahead of an EU defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

She said European countries should be capable of taking action before such attacks occur.

EU defence ministers are expected to discuss the bloc’s response to hybrid threats, including a proposed emergency protocol that could be activated if a threat targets any member state.

Kallas said the meeting would also focus on European defence preparedness, continued support for Ukraine and the security situation in the Middle East.

Speaking about European defence capabilities, Kallas said EU spending on defence had increased, but major gaps in capabilities continued to exist. She said attention should now be directed towards addressing those shortcomings.

Regarding the Middle East, Kallas said the EU’s naval Operation Aspides needed additional resources, particularly vessels capable of escorting ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

She added that the EU would consider whether vessels made available to a separate “coalition of the willing” could be temporarily deployed to support Operation Aspides.