Germany’s defense minister said Tuesday officials have to assume damage to two data cables under the Baltic Sea, one of which ends in Germany, was caused by sabotage — though he said they have no proof at present.
Damage was detected Monday to the C-Lion1 cable that runs nearly 1.200 kilometers (750 miles) from the Finnish capital, Helsinki, to the German port city of Rostock.
Another cable between Lithuania and Sweden was also damaged.
Speaking in Brussels, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that Russia poses not just a military but also a hybrid threat, and that Europe needs to take a broad approach to defence.
“We have to conclude, without knowing exactly who did it, that it was a hybrid action. And we also have to assume, without knowing it, of course, that it is sabotage,” Boris Pistorius told reporters.
The foreign ministries of Finland and Germany had already said Monday evening that the damage raised suspicion of sabotage.
The statement said the countries were investigating the incident, and that it was crucial that such “critical infrastructure” be safeguarded.
When asked about German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, which was heavily criticized by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pistorius said the conversation “gave proof… Putin is not willing to negotiate about anything”.
“Everybody in Germany or in other countries in Europe should realise finally now that this is not the point for talking about peace because everybody wants peace of course but Putin does not want it.”
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