European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after the 25th EU–China summit in Beijing on July 24, 2025. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Oct. 8 said that Europe must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defense to tackle Russia’s hybrid warfare.
During a speech at the European Parliament, von der Leyen told lawmakers that there has been a “worrisome pattern of growing threats” to European security that falls outside of the normal scope of conventional war, including sabotage of undersea cables, cyberattacks, and, most recently, drone incursions over Europe’s skies.
