EU foreign chief warns of rising Russian hybrid attacks and calls for decisive response
During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas warned that Russian hybrid attacks are growing throughout Europe. She described the tactics as bullying designed to frighten citizens, disrupt societies and deter decisive action, especially since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Kallas said the attacks in the past 48 hours are not random incidents but calculated moves to erode unity and exploit escalation fears.
She reaffirmed that EU support for Ukraine will not wane and highlighted that Moscow adapts its methods to each target, ranging from physical sabotage to information manipulation and election meddling. Emphasising the EU’s strengthened partnership with NATO, she called on member states to improve intelligence sharing and to confront the threat without hesitation.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report the European Parliament’s adoption of a report targeting Russian disinformation, but left-leaning coverage stresses the need for tougher sanctions and labels Russia as the primary external threat, while centrist coverage highlights the creation of a “Shield for Democracy” to protect the EU against hybrid attacks and notes Russia as a major source of those threats.
LEFT
Frames the story as an urgent call for harsher sanctions against Russian bot and troll operations, portraying Russia as the primary external threat to Europe’s security and democratic integrity.
CENTER
Frames the story as the adoption of a “Shield for Democracy” report aimed at strengthening EU protection against disinformation, hybrid attacks and hostile state interference, identifying Russia as a major source of those threats.
The left emphasises
- “Russia is using troll factories and bot networks and investing massively to try to destabilise our societies.”
- “Freedom of expression is not the freedom for robots to artificially amplify the debates crafted outside of Europe.”
- Calls for harsher sanctions against foreign actors spreading disinformation.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 EU ministers clash over budget cuts as frugal states demand higher ambition
- Sep 3 Donald Trump said Spain is becoming a ruined nation because of the migrant surge at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
- Sep 4 EU leaders will hear Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, where climate policy is expected to feature after a scorching summer.
- Sep 6 Von der Leyen will address climate issues in her September 16 State of the Union speech.
- Sep 7 Trump’s latest comments added a new criticism of Spain’s immigration handling since his earlier “ruined country” statement.
- Sep 11 President Nicușor Dan will attend the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finland on September 13-14, 2026, alongside leaders from Germany, Poland, Denmark and EU officials.
- Sep 12 The German chancellor’s meeting brought frugal leaders together and featured Draghi’s call for higher borrowing, adding a new dimension to the budget dispute.
- Sep 14 The summit is being held in Rovaniemi, Finland.
- Sep 14 Finland announced it will take part in France's forward nuclear deterrence scheme, extending the pact to a nation sharing a 1,340-km border with Russia.
- Sep 14 Bucharest will host an upcoming Eastern Flank summit.
- Sep 14 Finland announced its decision to join the French-led deterrence scheme.
- Sep 15 Leaders issued a joint declaration urging the EU to adopt a stronger, better‑funded Arctic strategy.
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