The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Wednesday that a thwarted drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport bore “all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism” after Germany blamed Russia for the incident.
Speaking as EU foreign ministers gathered in Wicklow, Ireland, Kallas said Germany’s attribution sent a “very strong signal” and praised member states for standing behind Berlin.
“We have already summoned the Russian ambassador, so have also many member states,” Kallas said. “We will discuss what more can we do.”
Other European ministers also took a hard line.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the incident as part of a “long-running attempt by the Kremlin to destabilize the European Union, its democratic processes” and weaken support for Ukraine.
“We will not let an act of such gravity go without consequences,” Barrot said. He added that France would support Germany’s proposals for sanctions and would propose measures targeting additional Russian vessels.
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said Europe had moved beyond simply discussing “hybrid threats.”
“We’re talking about significant activity,” McEntee said, accusing Moscow of a “very, very clear attempt” to divide EU governments and “put fear into citizens.”
EU members summon Russian diplomats
Germany formally blamed Moscow on Tuesday for the Aug. 4 incident, in which three drones carrying explosives were detected around Leipzig-Halle Airport. Berlin announced retaliatory diplomatic measures, including the closure of a Russian consulate and a cultural center in Berlin, and said it would seek new EU sanctions.
Russia has denied involvement and said it had seen no evidence supporting Germany’s accusations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond to what she described as Berlin’s “anti-Russian action,” according to Interfax. She provided no further details.
The EU’s diplomatic service summoned the Russian ambassador in Brussels over the incident, Kallas said.
Barrot said he had summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires in Paris and argued that European sanctions should be imposed, particularly against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said the Leipzig incident was completely unacceptable and said he had summoned Russia’s ambassador to the Netherlands.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Tuesday that he had summoned the Russian ambassador to Belgium, describing the attack as part of a wider series of “unacceptable incursions” on the territory of EU and NATO allies.
Russia’s ambassador to Germany was also summoned Tuesday.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin had previously dismissed the accusations as a “fabricated provocation” and a new wave of “anti-Russian hysteria in Germany.”
Kallas said another 1,600 listings targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex were already “in the pipeline.”
No decision on new measures was expected at Wednesday’s meeting. Kallas said, however, that Germany had the political backing of its EU partners.
“This is the unified response that we need,” she said.
