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Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that Europe is “under attack from Russia,” with hybrid assaults ranging from political assassinations and cyber warfare to acts of sabotage and arson.
He made this statement in Berlin, citing the German news agency dpa.
Sikorski emphasized that during Poland’s upcoming EU presidency, the country will focus on “security” and that Poland feels “vindicated” as its repeated warnings about the threat posed by Moscow have proven accurate.
Nearly three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sikorski highlighted the multifaceted attacks Russia has been carrying out on European soil, including the notorious assassination in Berlin in 2019 and “political killings” in the United Kingdom.
“In other countries, acts of sabotage are taking place: in the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Poland,” he said, referencing instances of arson, threats, and infrastructure destruction that have raised alarms across Eastern Europe in recent years.
“Russia’s attacks on European security have also been ongoing in cyberspace for years,” Sikorski said.
European countries face “constant cyberattacks,” he warned, also mentioning “interference” in the Brexit referendum.
Events in Romania, where the first round of presidential elections was canceled in December following the unexpected victory of a little-known pro-Russian candidate, should serve as a “wake-up call,” Sikorski stressed.
“Someone financed a social media campaign on his behalf,” he said.
Poland is also facing an additional threat from “armed migrants” on its eastern border, Sikorski added, calling this issue a “hybrid operation orchestrated by Russia and Belarus.”
The strategy behind the wave of Russian attacks, Sikorski said, is clear: “Vladimir Putin is openly provoking us and attempting to manipulate our electoral systems and institutions to restore Russian control over foreign territories and dismantle the Western alliance.”
The foreign minister stated that the best response for Europe is to “take European defense seriously.”
“Strength deters; weakness encourages,” he added.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also remarked on January 15 that Russia has been planning terrorist attacks not only against Poland but also against airlines worldwide.
Earlier, media reports citing Western security officials stated that Russia had planned operations to set fire to cargo and passenger planes bound for the U.S. and Canada.
Reports indicated that incendiary devices that ignited in DHL logistics centers in Germany and the UK had been sent from Lithuania, with the sender using fake personal details.
Read also: After Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine expects new dynamics in achieving peace through strength – FM
