Kubilius on Russia's threats: Attack on factories in the EU will trigger Art. 5 NATO

Kubilius was asked by journalists about the tensions around Königsberg and the exchange of positions between Moscow and NATO. Russia warned that if European countries or the Alliance tried to isolate this region, it could use its military potential, including nuclear weapons.

This is nothing new. We see Russia escalating its threats and taking real actions, including hybrid actions and acts of sabotage. We must take this into account, said the EU commissioner.

He emphasized that Europe should prepare for various types of threats.

We are not afraid of threats. We must be ready, Kubilius emphasized, pointing to the European Union's strengthening of defense readiness.

Kubilius was also asked about statements by Russian representatives that plants in the European Union producing weapons for Ukraine could be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.

If Russia attacks our factories on European territory, it will mean (triggering) Art. 5 – he replied.

Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one or more NATO members is treated as an attack against all countries of the Alliance.

Aggressive statements by Russian diplomacy

The spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said on Wednesday that European factories producing weapons for Ukraine may be treated by Moscow as military targets.

No one should assume that arms plants outside Ukraine producing weapons for the regime in Kiev will be safe, Zakharova said, quoted by the Russian news agency TASS.

The statement was made in the context of information about the possible launch of a service center for Patriot missiles in Poland, and, in the longer term, also participation in their production.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also commented on the matter. According to TASS, during the meeting of the International Discussion Club "Valdai" he referred (also in the context of European arms factories) to the provisions of the Russian military doctrine.

The response is to be "felt" for Moscow

The commissioner also addressed the question about the reaction to Russian hybrid activities. In his opinion, the response of European countries should be as severe for Russia as the effects of the attacks felt by their recipients.

“If we are under hybrid attack and feel pain from these attacks, our response from Russia should be as painful as the attack we experienced,” he said.

He noted that not all elements of such a strategy should be publicly disclosed in advance.