European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on 8 October 2025 that Russia is conducting a coordinated “grey zone” campaign against Europe. Speaking before Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she urged the European Union to leave its comfort zone and reinforce collective deterrence to protect its security interests.
Von der Leyen described the “grey zone” as the space between peace and open warfare. This is where Russia has employed tactics that exploit uncertainty. She further emphasized and contended that these actions are not isolated incidents nor mistakes but part of a continuous and escalating strategy designed to test European resilience and unity.
Recent events have intensified concern across the continent. Several incursions into European airspace have been documented in 2025 in Poland, Romania, Estonia, Denmark, Belgium, and Germany. Some of these violations were linked to Russian operations. Others remain unexplained. These expose critical weaknesses in European aerial surveillance systems.
She further cited sabotage of critical infrastructure, cyberattacks, and interference in democratic elections as elements of the hybrid aggression from Russia. False information campaigns, she explained, are disseminated to erode public trust, weaken political cohesion, and reduce European support for Ukraine as the war enters its third year.
The European Commission President called on member states to investigate every violation and publicly attribute responsibility to discourage further acts of intimidation. She characterized the ongoing campaign as “hybrid warfare” intended to remain in the twilight of deniability, where attribution is blurred but the strategic effect is real and destabilizing.
Moreover, during her address, she reiterated that peace now requires active deterrence and modernization of defense systems. She argued that the European Union must adapt to new forms of aggression, where the frontlines are invisible, digital, and psychological, and where traditional military frameworks are insufficient for protection.
One of the major responses of the European Commission is the proposed “drone wall” along the eastern frontier of the bloc. This integrated air defense initiative aims to detect, track, and intercept hostile unmanned aerial vehicles entering European airspace. This plan was a central topic at the informal EU summit in Copenhagen earlier this month.
The debate exposed divisions among leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron questioned the feasibility and cost of such an expansive defense structure. Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni demanded broader protection covering the southern and maritime borders as well.
Von der Leyen insisted that the anti-drone network should adopt a 360-degree model that is capable of addressing all threats coming from different directions, not only those from the east. She argued that modern security challenges respect no geographic boundaries, and the defensive capabilities of the European Union must extend to all regions and all dimensions of risk.
She also emphasized that the system should serve multiple purposes. Beyond military defense, it could be used for disaster response, border management, countering organized crime, and monitoring what officials describe as the Russian shadow fleet suspected of circumventing oil sanctions in place through covert maritime operations.
The Commission President underlined that the rising defense spending of the European Union must strengthen its industrial base. She called for procurement policies favoring “Made in Europe” defense hardware to ensure that defense investments generate employment and technological innovation within the bloc rather than benefiting external suppliers.
France has long promoted European strategic autonomy, while other countries have prioritized quick procurement from global markets. Von der Leyen urged a balance between speed and sovereignty, highlighting that unity of purpose and shared capability are the foundation of credible collective deterrence against external threats.
She concluded her address with a stark warning to her fellow leaders. Europe, she said, stands at a strategic crossroads: either it confronts these covert attacks with unity and vigilance or allows the grey zone to expand unchecked. Her statement reinforced the need for coordinated defense and unwavering commitment to European stability and capabilities.