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Relations between the European Union and Russia have seen a new escalation, after Germany joined France in summoning the Russian ambassador amid accusations against Moscow of carrying out cyberattacks and hybrid operations targeting a number of European countries and Ukraine, while the European Union continues to discuss a new package of sanctions against Russia.

The German Foreign Ministry announced that the cyberattacks attributed to Russia are 'unacceptable', confirming that they will be met with decisive measures, hours after France announced the summoning of the Russian ambassador in Paris and imposed sanctions on 9 individuals and 4 Russian entities, accusing the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) of being behind a campaign of espionage and cyber sabotage targeting at least 10 European countries.

In the same context, the European Union approved new sanctions targeting 9 individuals and 4 entities linked to what it described as 'Russia's malicious cyber attack system', noting that these activities targeted government institutions and vital infrastructure in France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania, and Finland.

The United Kingdom also announced sanctions on 24 individuals and entities that it said were behind electronic and hybrid operations carried out by Russian intelligence agencies, accusing Moscow of attempting to target the Polish electricity grid last year, in an attack that London said could have led to power outages for about half a million people.

In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers continue to discuss the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that ministers hope to adopt about 250 new entries on the sanctions lists, in addition to the new package, in response to the recent Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine.

At the same time, the French capital Paris hosts today (Monday) the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit to support Ukraine, with the participation of more than 20 European leaders, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The summit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in air and missile defense, and expanding weapons production programs inside Ukraine, as part of European efforts to increase military support for Kyiv.

In response, the Kremlin criticized the upcoming meeting, describing the 'Coalition of the Willing' as a 'coalition of war hawks', asserting that it will closely monitor the summit's outcomes, and considering that the participating countries are contributing to prolonging the war in Ukraine.

On the ground, Ukraine announced a series of drone attacks targeting oil tankers, ferries, and energy facilities inside Russian territory and in Crimea, prompting Moscow to suspend navigation in the Sea of Azov, according to Ukrainian officials, in a development reflecting the escalation of confrontation between the two sides in parallel with the intensifying diplomatic pressure and Western sanctions on Russia.