European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has accused Russia of conducting a hybrid war against the European Union following a series of recent violations of European airspace.
“It’s time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare,” von der Leyen declared in her address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday during a debate on the Russian incursions.
To support her claim, she cited multiple examples of hostile activities, including the severing of undersea cables, cyberattacks targeting airports and logistics centres, and malicious influence operations during elections.
“These incidents are calculated to linger in the twilight of deniability,” she said. “But they are part of an escalating campaign to unsettle EU citizens, test the EU’s resolve, divide the bloc, and weaken support for Ukraine.”
Von der Leyen explained that hybrid warfare combines various tactics — such as disinformation, cyberattacks, and military provocations — to weaken an adversary while remaining covert.
“The founding mission of the European Union is to preserve peace, and today that means having the capacity to deter aggression and provocation,” she said, stressing that “Europe must urgently equip itself with the strategic capacity to respond.”
She further disclosed plans to present a roadmap to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities in nine critical areas, including air defence, artillery, and electronic warfare, by 2030.
(NAN)