It was an unprecedented move designed to make an impression. As sabotage and particularly serious suspicious incidents have increased across Europe in recent weeks, French president Emmanuel Macron hastily convened a meeting at the Elysée Palace on Friday, September 18, with all the presidential candidates and leaders of political parties.

The invitation served as a warning, signaling a new phase in Russia's hybrid warfare against allies of Ukraine. "The nature of Russian aggression and threats in Europe is changing," the president said. Sabotage, which until now had mainly targeted state or military assets – such as the drone attack on a cargo plane in Leipzig, Germany, in August – now appears to be shifting toward targets that could result in civilian casualties. "No one is safe," Macron added.

Gathered in the room where the defense council traditionally meets, the political representatives received a confidential briefing on the threat, supported by documents and delivered by senior intelligence officials. All participants were convinced by the exercise, except for Fabien Roussel, Communist leader and 2027 presidential candidate, who said he "did not learn anything particularly new."