An alleged Russian drone plot at a German airport last month had “all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism,” European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas asserted Wednesday, a day after Germany said Russia was responsible. “We have already summoned Russian ambassadors,” Kallas told reporters in Ireland, ahead of a meeting with European foreign ministers. Kallas said E.U. member states would consider adding further sanctions on Russian military assets, in addition to working with Ukraine on efforts to put additional pressure on Moscow to end the war.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia was responsible for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August, which saw the discovery of an explosive-laden drone close to a runway. Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that the drone had been found lying near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. Federal police and a bomb disposal unit were deployed to safely dispose of the drone.
Leipzig/Halle has served as a European base for Ukraine’s Antonov jets since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The airport is also used by NATO for transportation needs, as well as by the German military.
Wadephul said Tuesday that “the means used to commit the attack, including the drone’s configuration, various components, explosives and ignition technology, are familiar to us from other Russian hybrid operations and from Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
He described the technology found at the airport as “professional” and said the drone’s components demonstrated “a high degree” of technical expertise. “Through the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership consciously chose to damage further our already severely strained bilateral relationship,” he alleged.
Wadephul announced retaliatory measures, relaying that Germany intends to close the Russian consulate in Bonn from Sep. 18. The lease for the Russian House in Berlin, an institute showcasing Russian culture, will be terminated.
There will also be tighter entry controls for Russian nationals and additional pressure will be placed on Moscow’s shadow fleet.
Russia has denied responsibility for the drone plot.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that no evidence for the allegations had been presented, and that “under a completely far-fetched and far-fetched pretext, Berlin has once again escalated bilateral relations,” according to Russian state news agency TASS.
In response to the retaliatory actions taken by Germany, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told reportersWednesday that Moscow “will respond as we deem necessary, when we are ready for it.”
This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin called the German response a “grave mistake” that “clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people,” according to TASS reporting.
TIME has approached the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin for comment.
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European officials lead support for Germany
Europe has rallied behind Germany and vowed to display a strong, united front.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he had discussed the incident with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“This is yet another Russian escalation, and it is important that Germany responded,” Zelensky said. “I assured him that Ukraine is ready to help—with expertise, experience, or in other areas where Germany may need it.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said “the United Kingdom stands in full solidarity with Germany following Russia’s egregious and reckless attack in Leipzig. Russian attempts to undermine our united resolve and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and doomed to fail.”
Lithuanian representative Kęstutis Budrys remarked that “Russia’s hybrid attacks against us [are] not hybrid anymore, they’re very kinetic.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia’s alleged involvement “cannot go unanswered,” calling for European allies to remain united and stand in support of Ukraine. “France is fully in solidarity with Germany and supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support for Merz. “Attacking a Ukrainian cargo plane on German soil was an egregious attempt by Russia to weaken our resolve and our collective defence—and it will fail,” he vowed.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, meanwhile, expressed “full solidarity” with Germany. “The evidence is clear,” he said, voicing his backing of Berlin’s measures against Moscow. “Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail.”
The U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expressed solidarity with Berlin “in the face of efforts to cause harm and chaos” on NATO territory. “We remain committed to NATO’s collective defense and clear-eyed about the need for allies to increase their capabilities to deter all threats to the Alliance,” he said.
Since President Donald Trump’s return to Office, Washington has maintained that European allies must do more to prop up its defensive capabilities, rather than relying heavily on the U.S.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of U.S. troops stationed in European countries in June, expressing the Trump Administration’s disappointment over the “shameful” response from allies to the war with Iran and the lack of support for Washington’s military actions.
NATO has largely heeded the call, with members pledging higher defense spending. But there have still been clashes over key issues, such as Trump’s expressed interest in annexing Greenland.
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