The remarks come after Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Wednesday warned that “weapons factories in European countries that produce arms for Ukraine are potential military targets for Russia.”
NATO chief Mark Rutte this week issued a strong rebuke of Moscow after Russia sent a note to the alliance threatening nuclear escalation over NATO activity near its border.
This week, Estonia said Russian secret services were behind last month’s arson attack on arms contractor Milrem Robotics. Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia and other countries are also investigating similar suspicious incidents.
An aide to Kubilius, granted anonymity to speak freely, confirmed that the commissioner’s comments related specifically to an aerial bombardment or missile attack on a factory.
Yet Kubilius’ statement is likely to stir unease within NATO given the sensitivity of discussions around Article 5 and the EU’s non-military role compared to the alliance.
“When Kubilius will become secretary general of NATO he might be able to claim what triggers or doesn’t trigger Article 5,” one NATO diplomat said.
NATO didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by POLITICO.