European Union leaders on Wednesday condemned Russia’s recent threats toward the Baltic states, calling them “completely unacceptable” and warning that any threat against an EU member state would be treated as a threat against the entire bloc.
“The public threats by Russia against our Baltic states are completely unacceptable. Let there be no doubt: a threat against one member state is a threat against our entire Union,” Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.
She also accused Russia and Belarus of bearing “direct responsibility” for drone-related incidents that have endangered security along Europe’s eastern flank.
Von der Leyen stressed that the EU would continue strengthening security and preparedness along its eastern borders through “strong collective defence.”
Echoing those remarks, António Costa described Russia’s actions as part of a broader campaign of “hybrid warfare tactics.”
“Russia’s continuous threats and provocations against the Baltic states are unacceptable. They are part of Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics and pose a threat to the European Union as a whole,” Costa wrote on X.
He added that the EU would accelerate efforts to reinforce defence capabilities and increase pressure on Moscow.
The comments came after Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Russian military was preparing an “appropriate response” to what Moscow claims is Ukraine’s use of Baltic territory to launch drone attacks against Russia.
The warning followed statements by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), which accused Latvia of allowing Ukraine to launch drone strikes from its territory and warned that NATO membership would not “protect” it from Russian retaliation.
Latvia rejected the accusations, with its foreign minister accusing Moscow of conducting a disinformation campaign.
Meanwhile, Mark Rutte dismissed Russia’s accusations against Latvia as “ridiculous.”
