Putin Has Hidden Allies in Europe, Says Spanish Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez believes there are secret supporters of the current Russian authorities in European countries who conceal their sympathies for Moscow.

The Spanish Prime Minister called for action in Europe against Kremlin's hidden agents. “The Russian autocrat is not alone in his reactionary desire to divide the world and turn back the clock. He has many allies in Europe who are currently hiding their sympathies towards Putin, but just a year ago they were visiting him and praising his methods,” Sánchez said during the World Economic Forum in Davos, as quoted by La Vanguardia.

“We must not allow these political forces to penetrate public bodies and destroy the EU from within,” Sánchez added during the World Economic Forum.

Since the start of military operations in Ukraine, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been accused of having ties with Vladimir Putin. Before February 24, Russian and Italian politicians met several times and referred to each other as “friends.” In April, Silvio Berlusconi condemned the Russian president's decision to invade Ukraine. However, in October 2022, Berlusconi spoke about restoring relations with Putin.

The head of the German cybersecurity agency, Arne Schönbohm, has also faced accusations of connections with Russia. He was suspected of having ties with Russian intelligence services through Germany’s Cybersecurity Council. However, due to a lack of evidence, the charges were dropped, and Schönbohm was appointed to a new position.