Stubb urges Europe to stay calm in face of Russian hybrid threats
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called on European countries not to overreact to Russia's hybrid attacks, saying Moscow's goal is to intimidate allies into reducing support for Ukraine. He added that Russia currently lacks both the motive and the capability to escalate to full-scale war.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking to Politico in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, has urged European countries not to overreact to the growing number of warnings about possible Russian provocations.
Stubb acknowledged that Europe must prepare for continued hybrid and sabotage attacks from Russia, but stressed that overreacting is not the right response. He said Russia's aim is to destabilize and intimidate Europe, and that every time a country overreacts to a hybrid attack, Russia effectively wins that particular battle.
No risk of full-scale war, for now
The Finnish president said it is not in Russia's interest, nor within its current capability, to escalate militarily into a full-scale war. He said Moscow will therefore continue its intimidation tactics, while Europe needs to remain calm, composed and steady.
Stubb praised Germany's recent decision to publicly hold Russia responsible for an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport, saying this is exactly the right approach — pointing a finger at Russia and warning of consequences.
At the same time, Stubb criticized statements by some countries' intelligence services suggesting that specific neighbors of Russia could become the next targets of invasion, saying there is no evidence for such claims. He noted that NATO, which includes Finland, has the longest border with Russia, and while intelligence shows activity along it, there is currently no immediate military threat.
In recent days, officials from several European countries have issued increasingly urgent warnings about growing Russian hybrid activity. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Moscow could attack NATO countries supporting Ukraine with drones or missiles in the coming months. The head of the Czech security service recently warned that Russia could, within months rather than years, launch a limited invasion, provocations, or a large-scale influence campaign against one of its neighbors. Baltic state officials, however, have dismissed such forecasts, saying intelligence does not support them.
