Poland to brief EU FMs on sabotage incidents, urges tighter controls on Russian diplomats

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Thursday said he would brief his EU counterparts in Brussels on recent acts of sabotage in his country, following talks a day earlier with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski talks to reporters in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

Photo: PAP/Wiktor Dąbkowski

Sikorski is expected to call for tougher EU restrictions on Russian diplomats, proposing that any Russian diplomat travelling to an EU country other than the one where they are accredited should require prior authorisation.

Poland's top diplomat argued that Moscow should not be allowed to exploit the freedoms of the Schengen zone, which he said Russia is actively trying to undermine.

EU officials estimate that more than 2,000 Russian diplomats are posted across the bloc, with around 40 percent believed to be conducting espionage or sabotage under diplomatic cover.

At present, the EU only requires Russian diplomats to notify authorities 24 hours in advance before travelling between member states.

Prawdziwi Sojusznicy stawiają na współpracę. To działa. Odstraszanie to nie slogan. To praca domowa. Wieczór z Sekretarzem Generalnym NATO.

Opublikowany przez Radosława Sikorskiego Środa, 19 listopada 2025

Read more about this topic:

• Poland charges two Ukrainians with rail sabotage for Russian intelligence
• Poland, Ukraine to coordinate response after rail sabotage: PM
• EU parliament to hold debate on Russian sabotage in Poland next week

(mp)

Source: IAR/Facebook/Radosław Sikorski