Sikorski says NATO must prepare for a deadly Russian hybrid attack

A threshold for NATO response

Poland's foreign minister Radosław Sikorski told the Financial Times that NATO members should prepare a firm response to a Russian hybrid attack that kills people. He said there is no agreed definition of when Russian actions cross the line that requires a strong reaction, and he did not specify what steps the alliance should take. Poland and Estonia had requested consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty after Russian drones and fighter jets violated their airspace, and Sikorski suggested further measures might be needed. Asked what counts as an attack, he said:

The question is what constitutes an attack, a cross-border attack. As long as it is material damage, that is one thing, but if people start to die, we will have to hold another very serious discussion in NATO.

Sabotage and intelligence warnings

Representatives of five European intelligence agencies told the Financial Times that Russian agents were targeting senior executives at European defence companies for assassination. German intelligence warned that Russia's shadow war was entering a new, potentially deadly phase. In July, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile fell in a field and exploded in eastern Poland. In September, Berlin accused Moscow of orchestrating a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport in August. Poland and neighbouring countries are concerned by rising cyberattacks, airspace violations and sabotage attempts against European targets, which they see as part of a Russian campaign to undermine support for Ukraine.

Sanctions, visas and diplomats

Sikorski called on European allies to close Russian consulates, reduce the number of Russian diplomats and limit their freedom of movement. He proposed that all Russians entering the EU must hold biometric passports, which he said would make it harder for agents to use false identities. He also backed cutting the number of tourist visas issued to Russian citizens, noting that EU countries issued nearly 500,000 such visas last year. Possible restrictions on Russian diplomats and tourists are to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Sikorski also backed further tightening of sanctions on Moscow. He called the new package, which covers more than 1,600 individuals and entities, 'the sharpest set of sanctions so far' and said it answers Vladimir Putin's unwillingness to make concessions.

Pressure on Russia over Ukraine talks

Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian refineries, which he said threaten energy supplies worldwide, and later spoke of an agreed 'energy ceasefire'. Neither side confirmed that such an arrangement had taken effect. Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and that an agreement should protect energy facilities in practice rather than only limit strikes on refineries. Speaking to Bloomberg, Sikorski asked Washington not to press Kyiv in talks to end the war, and he said Russia began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and remains a threat to Western security and world peace.

We appreciate President Trump's engagement in efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. In Poland, however, we believe it will produce a result if the pressure is applied to the aggressor, not the victim.

G20 bid and the UK

During a visit to London, Sikorski said he would seek an invitation for Poland to the G20 summit in Manchester. In return, Warsaw would back efforts to deepen cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union. He said Poland expects reciprocity on G20 participation, because its economic development over the last 30 years deserves recognition.