European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold an emergency meeting at Leipzig Airport on Wednesday following a failed drone attack that German authorities have attributed to Russia, von der Leyen said.
The drone, reportedly equipped with explosives, was detected near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport on 4 August. A member of airport staff managed to neutralize the low-flying drone before it could cause damage.
Von der Leyen said the incident represented a serious escalation but stressed that the European Union remained united despite actions intended to increase tensions.
‘The EU is united in its determination to stand against Russian aggression and deter anyone who undermines our freedom and security,’ she said.
According to von der Leyen, Russia is seeking to create fear and mistrust, but those efforts will fail. She added that the EU would continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.
EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the Leipzig incident at their next meeting and prepare further sanctions against Russia, von der Leyen said.
Rutte said the evidence linking Russia to the incident was clear, responding to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s statement that the attack had been attributed to Moscow based on police investigations, patterns identified in previous incidents and intelligence information.
The NATO secretary general said the alliance would further strengthen its deterrence capabilities to protect all members against threats, including hostile actions reported in Leipzig and elsewhere across the alliance.
‘Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, undermine our unity and weaken our willingness to support Ukraine will fail,’ Rutte said, adding that NATO’s commitment to Ukraine and collective defence remained firm.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia was using increasingly frequent hybrid attacks in an attempt to discourage the EU from supporting Ukraine.
‘It will not succeed. Instead, we will increase our support and invest in our own defence,’ Kallas said, adding that the EU was preparing what she described as its broadest sanctions package yet against Russia.
European Council President António Costa also condemned what he called the Russian-attributed attempted drone attack ‘in the strongest possible terms’. He called on Moscow to end its war against Ukraine rather than further escalate the situation.
Costa said the EU remained strong and united and would work with Germany to increase pressure on Russia until Moscow showed a willingness to change course.
German Interior Minister Dobrindt said on Tuesday that all available indications pointed to the 4 August attack having been carried out on behalf of Russia.
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