Brussels – EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters on Wednesday that the attempted drone attack on Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 bears all the hallmarks of state‑sponsored terrorism. The incident, which involved a drone laden with explosives found near a Ukrainian cargo plane, was quickly defused but raised alarms about a new level of danger to European infrastructure.
German response and EU sanctions plan
Germany immediately blamed Russia for the plot and announced the closure of a Russian consulate along with other retaliatory measures. Kallas said the EU already has “1,600 listings for the Russian military complex” in the pipeline and is preparing additional sanctions targeting individuals, shadow‑fleet vessels, and companies that support the Kremlin’s war effort.
Allied reactions
French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot called the attack part of a long‑term Kremlin strategy to destabilise the EU and its support for Ukraine, and said France has summoned Russia’s envoy in Paris to protest strongly. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, attending the EU defense ministers’ meeting in Ireland, warned that Russia is trying to divide Europe and pledged continued support for Ukraine “as long as it takes.”
Russian denial
President Vladimir Putin dismissed the allegations, claiming the evidence was planted to distract from Germany’s domestic challenges. He accused Berlin of using the incident to deflect criticism of its own policies.
Broader context
The Leipzig/Halle incident follows a series of sabotage reports across Europe, including a fire at a major drone factory in Poland and drone incursions in Estonia and Latvia. Spain has also accused Russia, alongside Israel, of using disinformation to spur migrants into crossing into its Ceuta exclave.
EU officials say the attack underscores the need for a coordinated response, potentially involving NATO, while remaining cautious about escalating a direct conflict with a nuclear‑armed Russia.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
