Estonian PM Michal expects new hybrid attacks by aggressor Russia in Europe
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said during the Arctic summit in Rovaniemi, Finland, that he expects new hybrid attacks by aggressor Russia against Europe. According to him, such actions are intended to prevent European countries from supporting Ukraine in the war.
As YLE News reports, Michal linked the likely increase in hybrid activity to his assessment that Ukraine is conducting combat operations better this year than before. The Estonian prime minister also believes that sanctions against the Russian economy are working and that this worries the president of aggressor Russia, Vladimir Putin.
Assessment of risks for NATO
According to Michal, Russia may use intermediaries, or proxies, and criminal operatives for hybrid attacks. At the same time, he does not believe that Moscow intends to test NATO's Article 5 on collective defence.
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He noted that in recent weeks several Western intelligence services had allowed for the possibility of both hybrid attacks and a limited military attack, including against the Baltic states. In Michal's view, Russia does not expect to go that far. He also positively assessed the statement by NATO states at the summit in Ankara on the effectiveness of collective defence and stressed that the Alliance works well at the military level.
Arctic summit in Rovaniemi
The Arctic summit in Rovaniemi was convened by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Participants in the meeting include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Romanian President Nicusor Dan, as well as representatives of EU institutions.
Topics of the summit include defence, Russia and Arctic issues. Finland proposes paying more attention to EU Arctic policy and allows for the use of joint financing, including for the construction of icebreakers. Michal said that Arctic states should be present in the region and conduct exercises there, and that he is also ready to discuss the idea of EU icebreakers.
