EU and NATO pledge to increase pressure on Russia after drone attack in Leipzig
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said they intend to strengthen the response to Russia’s actions after Germany accused Moscow of a failed drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport. Von der Leyen called the incident a “new escalation” on European Union territory. BBC News reports that Rutte expressed the Alliance’s full solidarity with Germany.
Investigation in Germany
According to German authorities, on August 4, a drone carrying explosives was intended to attack a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. One drone was neutralized by a robot, while another likely collided with another cargo aircraft. Ten days later, a third drone was reported to have been found at the airport, which is an important NATO logistics hub and is regularly used by Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft.
The German government said that a police investigation and intelligence data established Russia’s involvement in these incidents. Germany’s interior minister noted that the drone’s configuration, its components, the explosives, and the detonator were known from other Russian hybrid operations. Two identified suspects were also reported.
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Moscow’s and the EU’s response
Russia’s Foreign Ministry, of the aggressor state, rejected the accusations and said that Berlin had provided no evidence, promising a “mirror” response to German measures. Germany said it would close the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural institution in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin called these decisions a serious mistake, while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, answering a question about a possible rupture in relations with Germany, said that Moscow was still giving diplomacy a chance.
EU foreign ministers, gathered in Wicklow, Ireland, discussed further pressure on Moscow. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that measures could be taken at the European level against the so-called shadow fleet of vessels transporting oil and other cargoes in circumvention of sanctions. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands summoned Russian ambassadors over the Leipzig incident.
Von der Leyen also said that the EU had already agreed on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, while Kyiv had requested additional billions to pay for PAC-3 missiles for air defense. According to her, work is ongoing on the joint European-Ukrainian Freyja missile defense project. Separately, Germany reported two cases of suspected sabotage at electrical substations, while in Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk called a fire at a combat drone factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna deliberate arson and sabotage.
