EU and NATO announce increased pressure on Russia following German drone strike.

The EU and NATO announced they are stepping up pressure on Russia after Germany accused Russia of being behind the drone attack at Leipzig airport, and are discussing additional sanctions.

On September 3, 2569 at 00.01:XNUMX a.m., BBC News reported that The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have announced they are preparing to increase pressure on Russia. After Germany accused Moscow of being behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last August, European leaders viewed the incident as a “new escalation” of Russian operations on EU soil.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Speaking after meeting with... Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO. In Brussels, they said... The events in Leipzig reflect a new escalation of the situation within the EU, which can be directly linked to Russia.

"We need to step up our response, which means being prepared to counter Russia's negligence more quickly and effectively." Von der Leyen said:

side Rutte specify that All NATO member states, including the United States, stand in solidarity with Germany, warning that risks to Europe have increased, both from drones and missiles intruding into member states on the Eastern Front, as well as activities that directly threaten NATO territory.

Germany points to Russia as being behind the plot to attack the airport.

The allegations are related to an incident on August 4, when an explosive-laden drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport, believed to be targeting a Ukrainian cargo plane. Authorities successfully disarmed the drone using a robot.

Meanwhile, it is believed that another drone collided with a cargo plane, and a third drone was reportedly found in the airport area 10 days later.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is an important logistics hub for NATO and is frequently used by Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft.

German government Revealed on Tuesday that Police investigations and intelligence reports indicate that Russia was behind the incident. The German Interior Minister stated that the drone's construction, components, explosives, and detonators bore similarities to those previously found in Russia's hybrid warfare operations.

Authorities have reportedly identified two suspects. One is a Belarusian national holding a Russian passport who entered the country on a tourist visa, while the other holds Latvian and Russian passports. They traveled to Berlin by plane and left the country two days before the incident.

Russia denied Germany's allegations, insisting it did not intentionally send an explosive-laden drone to attack the Ukrainian aircraft.

Germany closes Russian consulate and cultural center in Berlin.

Germany announced retaliatory measures by closing the Russian consulate in Bonn, as well as the Russian House, a Russian cultural institution in Berlin that has long been suspected by Germany of being a channel for spreading Kremlin propaganda.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced it would retaliate against Germany in kind, asserting that Berlin had not presented any evidence to support the allegations. The Russian government summoned the German chargé d'affaires to inform him of the denial of the accusations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Germany's measures. that This was a serious mistake and clearly went against the interests of the German people.

When asked whether Moscow was ready to sever ties with Berlin, Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia. Answer: It is possible, but it was noted that at this time Russia remains open to diplomatic efforts.

EU poised to impose further sanctions – targeting Russia's "shadow fleet".

Despite criticism within Germany that the government's response was not strong enough, Berlin wants to coordinate measures with its allies, which may include expanding EU sanctions and increasing travel restrictions into the European Union for Russians.

During the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Wicklow, Ireland. Jean-Noël Barrot, French Foreign Minister specify that Europe may take further measures against Russia's "Shadow Fleet," which is used to transport oil and other goods to circumvent EU sanctions.

France, Belgium, and the Netherlands also summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the events in Leipzig.

side Kaya Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. said The EU is considering ways to tighten enforcement of existing sanctions, stating that member states broadly support the idea of ​​banning former Russian military personnel from entering the EU and increasing visa restrictions for Russian tourists.

Meanwhile, several EU member states, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, are pushing to use more than €193,000 billion worth of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.

However, Belgium, where most of the properties are located, remains opposed to the approach, concerned about potential financial liability should disputes arise in court.

Europe is facing multiple terrorist attacks.

Von der Leyen specify that The incident in Leipzig is part of an increasingly dangerous pattern of operations, including the use of drones and the intrusion into critical infrastructure in Europe.

In Germany, over the past 24 hours alone, there have been several suspected acts of sabotage, including attacks on two power substations, one in the east and another near the city of Cologne in the west.

An attack on power lines in Bergheim, western Germany, disrupted several transmission lines and shut down five power units at two coal-fired power plants. Police found six devices used in the attack in the vicinity.

Herbert Royle, Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia. specify that The incident was a deliberate act, and authorities are investigating two possibilities: sabotage ordered by a foreign state and the work of a radical left-wing group.

In addition, high-voltage transmission lines near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg were damaged, while explosive devices were later found near a substation.

On the Polish side. Prime Minister Donald Tusk specify that The fire at the military drone manufacturing plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna, south of Warsaw, was an act of arson and sabotage, although authorities have not ruled out the possibility of arson in connection with another fire at a plant in Lublin.

The EU reiterates its commitment to continue pressuring Russia until it stops attacking Ukraine.

Von der Leyen specify that The EU has already used sanctions to deter Russia, and foreign ministers are discussing additional ways to further cut off Russia's war funding.

The EU previously agreed to a €90,000 billion loan to Ukraine, while the Kyiv government is seeking several billion more euros in additional funding to acquire the PAC-3 air defense and missile system.

In addition, Europe and Ukraine are also undertaking a joint Freyja project to develop a missile defense system to counter ballistic missiles.

Von der Leyen confirm that Europe and NATO will not only maintain the current level of pressure on Moscow, but will continue to increase it, and will not stop until Russia ceases bombing and killing civilians in Ukraine.

refer : www.bbc.com

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