EU Defence Chief Calls for ‘Painful’ Countermeasures Against Russian Hybrid Threats

European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius has stated that the EU is developing an anti-hybrid warfare playbook capable of inflicting significant costs on Moscow for its provocative actions. Speaking exclusively to Euronews’ Europe Today, Kubilius affirmed that Europe can find methods to ensure Russia pays a “painful price” for such incidents, aligning with proposals outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

During her State of the European Union address on Wednesday, von der Leyen proposed a new mechanism designed to address security threats that exist in the gray zone below outright armed aggression. These hybrid tactics, which have recently destabilized Eastern Europe, include drone incursions, severed undersea cables, and the weaponization of migration. The surge in such incidents last month led five Baltic Commissioners to urge the EU executive to strengthen its support for the region.

Among the key proposals is the Emergency Security Protocol, a framework intended to complement NATO’s Article 4. Under this protocol, if one member state triggers the mechanism, all other members would convene to coordinate a unified European response aimed at deterring further escalation and mitigating the impact of hybrid attacks.

Von der Leyen also introduced the concept of a European Security Council, a leaders’ format that would institutionalize security cooperation beyond EU borders. The group would include like-minded partners such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, addressing major geopolitical challenges including Russia’s aggression and the diminishing US role in European security architecture.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is already frequently invited to European Council meetings, the new format would provide a dedicated structure for discussing continental safety. This raises questions about potential overlap with NATO, but Commissioner for the Economy Valdis Dombrovskis insisted the council would complement, not compete with, the alliance.

Dombrovskis highlighted the escalating nature of the conflict in Ukraine, noting that Russia is manufacturing millions of drones annually, thereby turning the war into a drone conflict. He emphasized the urgent need to bolster European drone defense capabilities.

A NATO official told Euronews that the alliance welcomes increased efforts from European allies and partners to support shared security. Reiterating points from the recent Ankara Summit, the official affirmed that NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defense and will continue close collaboration with the EU on defense industrial production and support for Ukraine.