STRASBOURG (Reuters) -Recent drone incidents and other airspace violations show that Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defense, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
“This is not random intimidation,” von der Leyen said in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union and weaken our support for Ukraine. And it is time to call the country by its name. This is hybrid warfare.”
Von der Leyen did not say that Russia was responsible for all the incidents, but said it was clear that Russia's aim is to “sow division” in Europe.
European officials have already blamed some of the recent incidents on Moscow.
“Tackling Russia's hybrid war is not just about traditional defense,” von der Leyen said. “This requires a new mindset for all of us. We can either stand back and watch Russia's threats escalate, or we can meet them with unity, deterrence and determination.”
(Reporting by Bart Meijer, Andrew Gray, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout)
