EU countries accuse Russia
The EU and NATO have decided to step up pressure on Russia after the drone incident in Leipzig
Daniela Budu, 03.09.2026, 14:00
The European Union and NATO have pledged to strengthen cooperation and maintain pressure on Russia, after the drone incident last month on Leipzig airport. In a news conference both the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, have condemned the attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport the authorities in Berlin blamed on Moscow.
Last month, employees found a drone loaded with explosives and a detonator on an airport, which plays a major logistic role in terms of civilian and goods transport also for NATO.
Germany has accused Moscow of leading a hybrid war aimed at intimidating and causing division among the countries that have been supporting Ukraine since 2022 when the Russian invasion began.
Russia has denied any involvement and described the allegations as an anti-Russian action by Germany. The European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, says she will step up pressure on Russia, including through fresh sanctions and has called for better protection of European infrastructures.
“Europeans are faced with a hard truth, that is the new normal,” von der Leyen said, adding that the EU should respond to Russia’s recklessness, faster and better.”
The head of the North Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, echoes von der Leyen’s remarks, saying Russia has become “increasingly reckless” as its invasion of Ukraine continues, with the threat now extended to European and NATO territory.
The NATO official has pledged that support for Ukraine will not cease and has recalled the drones and missiles that repeatedly violated the airspace alongside the eastern flank, which, according to him, created ‘increased risk’
“If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken. Our unity is unshaken. Our support to Ukraine is clear,” the NATO official went on to say.
In another development, upon an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers, hosted by Ireland, the head of the European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, says the EU will look to tighten the enforcement of sanctions against Russia, while further ramping up pressure on the country and increasing support for Ukraine.
“We are working on new proposals to tighten sanctions enforcement and we are moving ahead with more sanctions. Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail, Kallas also says.”
Worth noting is that several European countries, Romania included, have summoned Russia’s ambassadors to condemn the Leipzig airport attack. In Bucharest, acting Foreign Minister, Oana Toiu, has voiced solidarity with Germany and the other European countries, which, just like Romania, faced hybrid threats, interferences and reckless provocations from Russia.
(bill)
