EU foreign policy chief warns Russia plans more sabotage

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned on Monday that intelligence indicates Russia is planning further acts of sabotage in Europe, as she also acknowledged shortfalls in the bloc's defence capabilities.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks to reporters ahead of a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

"We need to be vigilant because we see in the intelligence that Russia is planning more sabotage acts and attacks against our democracy – to divide our society, to intimidate our societies into refraining from helping Ukraine," Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels.

The EU foreign policy chief also commented on a new report by the European Defence Agency, which found that Europe may not be able to meet its 2030 readiness target, set in response to the threat from Russia.

The document points to gaps in air and missile defence and shortages of ammunition and drones.

"We have big defence capability gaps, we should focus on how we fill those gaps," Kallas said.

She noted that the bloc had achieved a lot, including higher defence spending, but that serious shortfalls remained.

Ukraine, she added, "urgently needs air defence," including US Patriot systems.

Defence ministers of the 27 EU states are due to discuss the issue in Brussels on Monday.

Speaking on the Middle East, Kallas addressed an Italian proposal to strengthen the EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea, saying more "assets" would be needed.

The EU foreign policy chief said she had urged member states to contribute more but had so far received no new, binding commitments.

Russia has been carrying out attacks against Ukrainian civilians again.

Ukraine needs more Patriot interceptors before winter.
We are calling on Member States that have them in their stocks to provide them to Ukraine.

Member States have also recently agreed how to distribute… pic.twitter.com/dAAGkWlEk3

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) September 28, 2026

Aspides, launched in February 2024, protects commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters.

It was set up after Yemen's Houthi rebels stepped up attacks on ships in the Red Sea, as part of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

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Source: IAR, PAP