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Germany is urging European Union countries to take more decisive actions against hybrid threats from Russia, including expanding the EU’s sanctions regime, according to a document seen by Politico.
The proposals, outlined by Germany’s Foreign Ministry and shared with other EU states, aim to pave the way for coordinated measures, Politico reports.
The document suggests that the EU should impose new sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet” and restrict accreditation durations and mobility for holders of Russian diplomatic passports.
To prevent future hybrid attacks, the German Foreign Ministry advocates strengthening cooperation with private companies by conducting regular stress tests for critical infrastructure.
Germany also hopes the EU will develop a more proactive strategy to respond to hybrid threats from Moscow. For instance, it proposes declassifying certain intelligence to counter disinformation and expose hostile activities.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has ramped up its hybrid warfare campaign, including arson, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and sabotage across Europe.
Recent examples include the suspected cutting of undersea gas pipelines and communication cables in the Baltic Sea, which German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described as sabotage.
Pistorius also warned that the threat of Russian hybrid attacks against Western countries in the Baltic Sea region remains constant.
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