Rubio warns Russia's war on Ukraine could spread through accident or sabotage

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday at the UN General Assembly in New York that he is concerned Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine could spread to other countries. He pointed not only to deliberate aggression as a risk, but also to sabotage, hybrid operations, or even accidental incidents. As an example, Rubio described a scenario where a pilot flies off course in the wrong direction, which could suddenly trigger active combat.

His remarks followed a closed-door meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Ahead of the talks, the Kremlin said it currently sees no conditions for resuming peace negotiations with Ukraine, despite claiming openness to dialogue. After the meeting, Rubio said the US would try to secure at least a mutual agreement between Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy infrastructure, though he acknowledged this would not be easy.

European officials voice similar concerns

Rubio's warning aligns with statements from several European officials. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has pointed to a rapid rise in sabotage incidents and airspace violations across Europe. NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said in August that Russia is showing an increasing willingness to take risks, citing drone and military aircraft airspace violations, arson and sabotage attempts, and attacks on critical infrastructure.

Poland has been especially vocal. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, citing intelligence information, that Russia could use drones or missiles to strike countries supporting Ukraine while trying to make the attacks look accidental. A similar case occurred in August in Germany, where an explosive-laden drone was found near the runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport, close to an Antonov cargo aircraft linked to Ukraine-related transport. German authorities later said they assessed Russia was behind the incident, a claim Moscow denies. NATO, however, says it does not currently see signs of an imminent direct military attack on the alliance.