EU defence chief warns Russian strikes on European arms plants will trigger NATO Article 5

Warning over European arms plants

EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated on Thursday at the European Parliament that any Russian strike on European defence plants producing military equipment for Ukraine will trigger NATO Article 5. The remarks came during a briefing with journalists in which the commissioner responded directly to threats from Moscow designating European arms facilities as legitimate military targets. Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an armed attack against one or more alliance members is considered an attack against all NATO allies. Kubilius noted that European institutions are intensifying defence readiness measures to counter both conventional and non-conventional risks. He stressed that European governments are taking these security threats into operational consideration as arms manufacturing across member states continues to expand to support Kyiv.

If Russia attacks our factories on European territory, it will mean Article 5.

Russian threats against military manufacturing

The warning by Kubilius followed formal statements from Russian diplomatic officials targeting European defence contractors. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that European factories manufacturing weapons for Ukraine could be treated by Moscow as military targets. Her remarks, reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, were delivered in response to reports regarding the planned establishment of a Patriot missile service center in Poland, alongside future plans for Polish participation in missile production. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed European defence manufacturing during a session of the Valdai International Discussion Club, where he referenced specific provisions of Russia's military doctrine. Russian authorities maintain that facilities outside Ukrainian territory supplying equipment to Kyiv forfeit protection from military action.

Nobody should assume that defence plants outside the territory of Ukraine, producing weapons for the regime in Kyiv, will be safe.

Hybrid actions and deterrence strategy

Beyond conventional strikes, Kubilius addressed the growing frequency of hybrid threats and sabotage operations detected across European territory. He stated that the European Union recognizes an ongoing escalation in hostile activities carried out by Moscow, including sabotage against infrastructure. In response to these actions, the commissioner argued that European countermeasures must inflict a comparable level of disruption on the Russian state. He noted that Europe's hybrid defence posture must be equipped to exert a direct, painful impact on Russian territory, while intentionally keeping the operational methods unannounced.

If we are attacked with hybrid means and feel pain from these attacks, our response to Russia should be as painful as the attack we experienced.

Tensions surrounding Kaliningrad

The commissioner also addressed recent verbal exchanges between Moscow and NATO regarding the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, referred to in Poland as Królewiec. Moscow previously issued warnings that it could utilize its military arsenal, including nuclear capabilities, if European countries or NATO attempt to isolate the Baltic exclave. Kubilius described these warnings as an established pattern of Russian escalation, asserting that European nations do not fear such rhetoric. He emphasized that European countries must maintain high preparedness across all potential scenarios, from nuclear posturing to physical sabotage. The European Union continues to reinforce its defence capabilities in coordination with member states to ensure sustained protection of critical industries and regional supply chains.