On Friday 18 July, the European Union, through EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and the North Atlantic Council condemned Russia’s malicious activities.
They “form part of broader, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its Member States and its partners”, Ms Kallas said in her statement, citing cyber attacks, acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, physical attacks, manipulation and interference of information and other “covert or coercive” actions.
NATO has called on Russia to cease its destabilising cyber and hybrid activities. The Allies warned that they were determined to prevent, impede and defeat Russian cyber-malware and “to use the full range of capabilities in order to deter, defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats”. “We will respond to these at a time and in a manner of our choosing, in accordance with international law, and in coordination with our international partners including the EU”, they explained.
“We will continue to strengthen our resilience, deepen cooperation with international partners, in particular with NATO in full respect of the agreed principles and make full use of all available means to prevent, deter, and respond effectively to Russia’s hybrid activities”, confirmed Ms Kallas.
See the EU statement: https://aeur.eu/f/hxt ; and the NATO statement: https://aeur.eu/f/hy6 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)