---
title: "Sikorski calls on EU to expel up to 40% of Russian diplomats amid wave of hybrid attacks"
description: "Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called on the EU to expel up to 40% of Russian diplomats working in bloc countries and to tighten visa rules amid a wave of hybrid attacks."
date: 2026-09-04T00:34:04.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sikorski-calls-on-eu-to-expel-russian-diplomats
tags: [poland, russia, eu-diplomacy, sikorski, hybrid-threats, visa-restrictions]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Sikorski calls on EU to expel up to 40% of Russian diplomats amid wave of hybrid attacks

![Mark Sycora in a business suit gesturing while calling on the EU to expel up to 40% of Russian diplomats](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/04/sikorski-prizval-es-vyslat-rossijskih-diplomatov/sikorski-prizval-es-vyslat-rossijskih-diplomatov-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Sikorski called on the EU to expel up to 40% of Russian diplomats working in bloc countries.
- According to Polish estimates, more than 2,000 Russian diplomats are in the EU, and no fewer than 40% carry out tasks incompatible with diplomatic status.
- Additional proposals include restricting the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats, cutting Schengen visas, and requiring biometric documents.
- France stated it is ready to support further steps if circumstances require; Germany reacted to the drone incident in Leipzig.

The head of Poland's Foreign Ministry, Radosław Sikorski, called on the European Union to expel a significant portion of Russian diplomatic staff accredited in bloc countries. According to him, the figure is up to 40% of personnel who, in Warsaw's assessment, operate under the cover of Russian intelligence services. The statement was made at a press conference in Weimar after a meeting with his German and French counterparts and was framed as a response to the recent wave of hybrid attacks that, in the Polish minister's view, call for tougher restrictions against Moscow.

### Call for expulsion: figures and rationale

According to Polish estimates, more than two thousand Russian diplomats are currently present in EU countries, and no fewer than 40% of them, as Sikorski emphasized, "carry out tasks incompatible with their diplomatic status." The minister stated that these individuals "work for agencies that also carry out terrorist activities in our countries," adding that "Russia is trying to destroy the EU from within and should not be allowed to enjoy the privileges of free movement." In his words, as a gesture of solidarity with Germany, the bloc must introduce "all necessary precautionary measures for our population."

### Package of additional restrictions

In addition to reducing the number of Russian diplomatic staff, Sikorski called for restricting the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats, cutting the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, and requiring Russians to use only biometric documents when entering the EU. Thus, Warsaw is proposing a set of measures affecting the diplomatic corps, civilian entry, and the bloc's visa policy.

### Partners' reaction and the context of hybrid attacks

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that Paris is ready to support further steps "if circumstances so require." The EU, particularly Germany, reacted sharply to the drone incident in Leipzig, which, according to the Polish side, became the "last straw" against a backdrop of ongoing Russian hybrid attacks on EU countries. In this context, reports indicate that a firm response is being prepared, including restrictions on Russians, diplomats, and the "shadow fleet," as well as a German statement on supplying Ukraine with missiles and thousands of drones to deter Russia.

### Contradictory data

The statement text and its retellings contain a discrepancy in the wording of the scale: in one place it speaks of expelling "about half" of Russian diplomats, in another — "up to 40%." Both figures indicate a comparable but not identical volume, and the exact share that Warsaw considers the target is not unified in open retellings. Moreover, the figure of "more than 2,000 diplomats" and the estimate of "no fewer than 40%" are claims by the Polish side, not independently verified data; no independent audit of the number and functions of Russian diplomatic personnel in the EU is provided in the sources.

Thus, Sikorski's initiative is a political call for a coordinated tightening of the EU's position, underpinned by references to hybrid attacks and the Leipzig incident. The actual implementation of the expulsion, visa, and biometric restrictions will depend on coordination within the bloc and on which specific measures key countries, including France and Germany, will support.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [In Poland, it was explained how many Russian diplomats work for intelligence services](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/polshchi-poyasnili-skilki-diplomativ-rf-pratsyuyut-1788481045.html) - Подтверждает заявление Сикорского и оценку Польши о числе дипломатов РФ, работающих на спецслужбы; цифры — оценка польской стороны.
- [Polish Foreign Minister calls on EU to expel Russian diplomats working in bloc countries](https://zerkalo.az/glava-mid-polshi-prizval-es-vyslat-rossijskih-diplomatov-rabotayushhih-v-stranah-bloka/) - Подтверждает призыв к высылке части российских дипломатов; совпадает с основным текстом по сути заявления.
- [Sikorski: Kyiv's start of EU accession talks does not mean their success](https://news.mail.ru/politics/71423349/) - Содержит иное заявление Сикорского (о переговорах Украины по вступлению в ЕС); к теме высылки дипломатов не относится, использовано лишь как контекст позиции министра.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How many Russian diplomats are in the EU, according to Polish estimates?
**A:** According to Polish estimates, more than 2,000, and no fewer than 40% of them, in Sikorski's words, carry out tasks incompatible with diplomatic status.

### Q: What additional measures did Sikorski propose beyond expulsion?
**A:** Restrict the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats, cut the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, and require the use of only biometric documents when entering the EU.

### Q: How did France react?
**A:** French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that Paris is ready to support further steps if circumstances so require.