War

Ukraine, European Parliament approves resolution on unity against Moscow and EU defence. NATO considers armed response to hybrid warfare

According to a reconstruction by the Financial Times, NATO allies are discussing a more decisive response to Vladimir Putin's provocative actions, including deploying armed drones along the border with Russia and relaxing restrictions on pilots to allow them to open fire on Russian aircraft

9 October 2025

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4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The European Parliament approved by a large majority (469 votes in favour, 97 against and 38 abstentions) a resolution calling for a unified EU response to Russian provocations and condemning violations of airspace and drone attacks against EU countries and infrastructure. Also in the text is a call for coordinated and proportionate action, including the shooting down of air threats, a call for unified EU-NATO defence, new sanctions against Russia, progress towards a defence union and closer cooperation with Ukraine.

The resolution also calls for coordinated actions, more robust defence and sanctions to counter Russian provocations targeting EU security and infrastructure. It also stresses the need to create a solid European pillar within NATO. Calling for greater coordination, unity and solidarity between member states, EU institutions and NATO structures, MEPs insist on the need to move towards a true European Defence Union.

This progress should be accompanied by adequate funding in the current and next multiannual financial framework, highlighting the need for better equipment of police forces and civil authorities to detect and counter drones.

Tomorrow's NATO parliamentary assembly in Slovenia

Starting tomorrow and running until Monday, Slovenia will host the 71st annual meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, with some 300 parliamentarians discussing the Atlantic Alliance's current security challenges. On Saturday and Sunday, meetings of the five standing committees will be held, including the political committee, which will be attended by Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, and Defence Minister Borut Sajovic. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will address the plenary session on Monday, and will meet the Prime Minister, Robert Golob, and the President of the Republic, Nataša Pirc Musar. The meeting follows the NATO summit held in The Hague, where leaders agreed to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035.

NATO evaluates armed response to hybrid war

According to a reconstruction by the Financial Times, NATO allies are discussing a more decisive response to Vladimir Putin's provocative actions, including deploying armed drones along the border with Russia and relaxing restrictions on pilots to allow them to open fire on Russian aircraft

Germany has already announced that the German federal police will be able to shoot down all suspicious drones.

The frontline states bordering Russia, supported by France and the UK, initiated the discussions, which have since spread to a wider group within the 32-member Atlantic alliance.

Von der Leyen: Muro di droni soluzione per la sicurezza dello spazio aereo Ue

Military exercises on the Eastern Front

Also according to a reconstruction in the Financial Time, the NATO allies' proposals include arming surveillance drones used to gather intelligence on Russian military activities and lowering the requirements for pilots patrolling the eastern border to counter Russian threats. Another option is to conduct NATO military exercises on the border with Russia, especially in the more remote and unmanned areas of the border.

La Russia risponde sui droni "irridendo" l'Europa

Russian provocations

Last month, Donald Trump had stated that Nato should open fire on Russian planes that violate allied territory. The US president's statements came after a series of Russian provocations, including the first direct clash between Nato planes and Russian drones since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In addition to that clash in Polish airspace, Russian drones also veered into Romanian territory and MiG fighter jets crossed Estonian airspace.

Meanwhile, dozens of unidentified drones caused massive disruptions at airports in Belgium, Denmark and Germany, with some officials attributing them to the same hybrid warfare waged by Moscow, which includes cyber attacks and sabotage attempts.

Germany, Spiegel: drone alert on NATO base in North Rhine-Westphalia

Mercoledì sera, un drone non identificato avrebbe violato il perimetro di sicurezza della base Nato di Geilenkirchen, di importanza strategica. Secondo le informazioni di Der Spiegel, il velivolo sospetto è stato individuato poco dopo le 19:00 nella no-fly zone che circonda la base. Secondo una nota ufficiale interna, il drone ha sorvolato a bassa quota la pista della base aerea in Nord Reno-Vestfalia per un minuto abbondante. La polizia militare ha immediatamente segnalato l’accaduto alla polizia. L’allarme è stato immediatamente lanciato alla base da cui decollano gli aerei da ricognizione Awacs della Nato. Sia la polizia militare che quella civile sono intervenute e hanno perlustrato l’area circostante la grande base. La polizia non è riuscita a trovare nulla sul drone o sul presunto pilota. Ciononostante, sono state disposte “misure di sicurezza rafforzate”. La base Nato di Geilenkirchen svolge un ruolo chiave nel monitoraggio del fianco orientale dell’Alleanza.

NATO: Italian jets 'scramble' in Estonia in recent days

"This week, Italian Eurofighters stationed in Estonia and Hungarian Gripens stationed in Lithuania were mobilised to monitor Russian aircraft flying in the vicinity of NATO airspace. NATO's air-guard resources in the Baltic States remain steadfast in continuing to safeguard the integrity of allied airspace from any potential threats," the NATO Air Command announced.

L’effetto Trump e la svolta di Netanyahu

Escalation and hybrid war

Matthew Whittaker, US ambassador to NATO, said last week that he was 'working every single day' with allies to ensure 'we have better options on asymmetric and hybrid warfare'. He said it was crucial 'to make sure we have enough steps on the escalation ladder'.

Two NATO officials said that an urgent issue was to simplify the rules of engagement along the eastern flank. Some countries require fighter pilots to visually confirm threats before committing, while others allow them to open fire based on radar data or perceived danger from the direction or speed of the hostile object.

NATO won't comment: divided countries

NATO did not currently respond to a request for comment from the British newspaper. The talks, which began in a small group of directly affected states, have now turned into a broader discussion, the two officials said, however, as other allied capitals recognise the wider threat posed by Moscow's destabilisation campaign.

Some countries are also pushing for a more aggressive Nato stance as a means of deterrence, one of the officials said. Other allies are advising a more conservative response, given the risks of a direct confrontation with a nuclear power like Russia. "Active discussions are underway on these issues, on how to respond better and more efficiently to Russia," one Nato diplomat explained, adding that the talks are still at an early stage.