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🇱🇹 Lithuania /Elections & Politics

Polish foreign minister urges EU to expel nearly 1,000 Russian diplomats

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski urged the European Union to expel nearly 1,000 Russian diplomats, saying about 40% may be carrying out activities incompatible with diplomatic status.
  • He also called for tighter movement restrictions, fewer Schengen visas for Russian citizens and biometric documents for entry into the EU.
  • The proposal followed suspected sabotage incidents in Germany, which authorities have linked to Russia, and Berlin’s decision to tighten visa controls.

Poland wants the European Union to expel nearly 1,000 Russian diplomats, a move Radoslaw Sikorski said would target about 40% of Russia’s diplomatic personnel working in the bloc.

After meeting his German and French counterparts in Weimar, Poland’s foreign minister argued that recent hybrid attacks required a tougher response. “Ultimately, Russia is trying to destroy the EU from within, so it should not be allowed to use the privileges of free movement,” Sikorski said.

Ultimately, Russia is trying to destroy the EU from within, so it should not be allowed to use the privileges of free movement.

· Radoslaw SikorskiPoland’s foreign minister argued for tougher restrictions on Russian diplomats and travelers.

Poland estimates that more than 2,000 Russian diplomats currently work in EU countries. Sikorski said at least 40% were carrying out tasks incompatible with diplomatic status, including work for special services that he alleged were conducting “terrorist activity” in European countries. He also urged the EU to restrict diplomats’ freedom of movement, reduce the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens and require Russians entering the bloc to carry biometric documents.

If circumstances require it.

· France’s foreign ministerFrance indicated it could support further measures against Russia.

France’s foreign minister said Paris was ready to support further action “if circumstances require it.” The Polish proposal came after a series of incidents in Germany that authorities associate with Russia. On Aug. 4, a drone carrying explosives was found near a Ukrainian military transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Investigators later found another drone and about 50 grams of explosive material. Germany formally accused Russia of attempting to carry out the attack.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described Moscow’s actions as part of “a long chain of destabilization, disinformation, threats, sabotage and aggression against Europe.” Further incidents were reported in Bergheim, Brandenburg, Augsburg and Munich, including power disruptions, damage to a substation, an explosion near a railway station and Molotov cocktails thrown at a defense company construction site. Germany has responded by tightening controls on Russian arrivals and plans to reduce visas, saying too many are currently being issued.

A long chain of destabilization, disinformation, threats, sabotage and aggression against Europe.

· Alexander DobrindtGermany’s interior minister characterized the incidents that authorities linked to Moscow.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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