Kaja Kallas, head of EU diplomacy, stated that EU member states need to substantially strengthen intelligence cooperation in order to more effectively counter Russia's hybrid attacks. In her words, European countries should more actively share intelligence information, respond to threats jointly, and strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the EU Diplomatic Service.
Priority of Intelligence Exchange
Kallas emphasized that the nature of modern hybrid attacks requires closer cooperation among EU member states and the relevant structures. "We must strengthen the exchange of intelligence data, the protection of critical infrastructure, and our ability to withstand hybrid attacks," the head of EU diplomacy stated. She linked the need for such reinforcement to Russia's activity, which, according to the European side's assessment, uses hybrid methods of influence against European countries that go beyond traditional security and affect infrastructure and other areas.
Hybrid Attacks as a Tool of Pressure
The EU continues to discuss ways to strengthen defense and security cooperation among member states against threats from Russia. In European diplomatic rhetoric, Moscow's hybrid attacks are characterized as a tool intended to intimidate societies, paralyze them, and make them hesitate in decision-making. By this logic, the response to such actions should be concrete steps and a firm stance, rather than concessions under the pressure of fear. European security, as emphasized in the statements, requires a corresponding level of action.
Context: The Leipzig Incident and Sanctions Expansion
Kallas's statements came against the backdrop of a number of high-profile events. In particular, the incident involving a drone attack at Leipzig airport was discussed, after which the EU reportedly prepared countermeasures, and Kallas herself summoned the Russian representative to the EU. Meanwhile, European press reported plans to expand the sanctions list against Russia by roughly a third. These events form the overall context in which strengthening intelligence coordination is seen as a practical necessity rather than a declaration.
NATO's Response and the Broader Background
NATO previously reported that the Alliance is strengthening cyber defense and information sharing in response to threats from Russia. Separately, Poland released statistics on investigations into espionage on behalf of foreign intelligence services. The combination of these factors indicates that the issue of hybrid security and intelligence cooperation is becoming one of the central ones in European security policy, and Kallas's calls reflect a course toward tighter coordination of efforts by EU countries.
