Germany is close to identifying a suspect in a suspected drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane earlier this month, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying a coordinated response will be made clear in the coming days.
Key facts
- Germany is expected to name who it believes was behind a suspected drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane in Leipzig.
- The incident occurred earlier this month and has been widely speculated to have been coordinated by Russia.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz said investigations are being concluded and a response will be outlined in the coming days.
- Berlin plans to coordinate its response with European and Nato partners.
- Merz made the comments in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening.
The German government is expected to announce imminently who it believes was responsible for a suspected drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane in Leipzig earlier this month, according to the Guardian. Berlin is also expected to outline its response to the incident in coordination with its European and Nato partners.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the matter in an interview with the public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening. “We are in the process of concluding the investigations; we have reached a broad agreement within the federal government on how we will respond, and we will make this clear in the coming days,” he said. “It won’t take much longer.”
The incident has been widely speculated to have been coordinated by Russia, the Guardian reported, though the German government has not yet publicly confirmed who it holds responsible.
Merz’s comments indicate that the investigation is nearing its conclusion and that the federal government has already reached what he described as a broad internal agreement on how to respond.
By emphasising coordination with European and Nato allies, Berlin appears to be positioning any response as a collective rather than purely national action. Further details are expected to be released in the coming days.
Why it matters
A suspected drone attack on an aircraft on German soil, potentially linked to Russia, raises serious questions about security and the risk of escalation in Europe. How Germany and its Nato partners respond could shape the wider Western approach to alleged Russian interference.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the Leipzig drone incident?
According to the Guardian, a Ukrainian cargo plane was the target of a suspected drone attack in Leipzig earlier this month. The German government is expected to announce who it believes was responsible.
Who does Germany think is behind the attack?
Germany has not yet publicly named a suspect. The incident has been widely speculated to have been coordinated by Russia, and Berlin is expected to identify who it believes was responsible in the coming days.
What has Chancellor Merz said?
In an ARD interview on Sunday evening, Merz said the investigations were being concluded, that the federal government had reached a broad agreement on how to respond, and that this would be made clear in the coming days.