European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have announced a coordinated response to what they describe as a dangerous escalation in Russian hybrid operations. The declaration follows confirmation from the German government that a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month was orchestrated by Russian operatives.
German officials stated that the drone, which was neutralized by a robot, contained components and explosives consistent with previous Russian hybrid activities. Two suspects have been identified in connection with the incident, including individuals with Belarusian and Latvian ties. In response, Berlin plans to close the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center. Moscow has denied the allegations, labeling them "entirely unfounded," and has threatened reciprocal measures.
The incident at the airport—a critical hub for NATO and Ukrainian transport aircraft—is part of a broader wave of suspected sabotage across Europe. Recent reports include power grid attacks in Germany and factory fires in Poland, which Prime Minister Donald Tusk has characterized as deliberate acts of arson. NATO’s Mark Rutte noted that the alliance is facing an increased frequency of malign activities, ranging from infrastructure interference to threats against defense production facilities.
In response to these developments, EU foreign ministers are exploring further measures to restrict Russian influence, including tighter visa regulations for Russian citizens and enhanced enforcement of existing sanctions. Discussions are also underway regarding the potential use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defense needs, including the procurement of air defense systems. Von der Leyen emphasized that the bloc intends to continue increasing pressure on the Kremlin, stating, "We will not tolerate it."
Source: BBC News
暂无评论。快来发表第一条评论吧。