EU’s Costa calls out ‘dangerous escalation’ by Russia amid increasing hybrid attacks

EU Council president António Costa described Russia’s recent hybrid attacks on European countries as “unacceptable,” urging Moscow to end what he called a “dangerous escalation”.

“Russia’s attacks on Ukraine also threaten the safety of civilians beyond Ukraine’s borders. It is unacceptable that, over the past 12 months, Russia has repeatedly threatened the security of the member states of the European Union,” he said in his speech on Thursday (24 September) during the UN assembly meeting in New York.

“The international community must mobilise all the levers at its disposal with regard to Russia to bring this war to an end and create the conditions for negotiations towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” he said.

Costa’s remarks came after the US administration invited Russia to join the G20 meeting taking place in December in Miami in a bid to intensify potential peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

But some European states push back against Trump’s move, arguing it would be counterproductive.

“If ​inviting Putin to the G20 ​could bring us closer to a just ‌peace, ⁠I would be absolutely in favour of it,” said Polish prime minister Donald Tusk Thursday, as hybrid threats intensify throughout Europe.

“However … at this stage, Russia ​might well view it as ​an ⁠encouragement to continue its aggressive policies. That is what I fear,” he added.

A report also issued on Thursday by the Danish intelligence warns hybrid war with Russia is escalating and Russian attacks - hybrid or, with less probability, armed - will become more frequent in the coming months.

It comes at a time when "prosperity now depends on security," said Seán Clancy, chief of the EU military committee linked to the EU’s external service action, talking to business leaders.

Zuzanna Stawiska is a junior reporter covering European affairs. She also writes stories for the European Correspondent.