EU foreign ministers met in Palermo to weigh a collective response after Germany formally blamed Moscow for last month's drone attack in Leipzig, with the bloc's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, calling the incident state-sponsored terrorism. The sources contain no response from Moscow.
Key facts
- Germany has formally blamed Moscow for last month's drone attack in Leipzig, according to the Guardian.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the attack 'had the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism'.
- The EU said it was seriously considering using frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv.
- German police opened an investigation into an attempt to disrupt a power substation near Brandenburg.
- Nato secretary general Mark Rutte described Russia as increasingly reckless.
- The sources do not include any comment or denial from Moscow.
European Union foreign ministers met in Palermo to consider a collective response after Germany formally blamed Moscow for a drone attack in Leipzig last month, the Guardian reported. The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the incident ‘had the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism’ as she prepared to lead the discussions.
Kallas struck a defiant tone, warning that Russian efforts to unsettle the continent would not succeed. ‘Russian attempts to intimidate Europe will fail,’ she said, according to the Guardian’s coverage of the talks.
Among the measures under consideration, the EU said it was seriously weighing the use of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv following what it described as a hybrid drone attack in Germany. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said on Wednesday that Rome was not opposed to the idea, joining countries including the Netherlands, Spain and Poland.
Britain’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, also took part in the talks, according to the Guardian. ‘We see an attempt by Russia to divide us in Europe and to deter us from our support for Ukraine. And I say very clearly today, on behalf of the United Kingdom, this attempt will fail,’ he said.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte described Russia as increasingly reckless as EU ministers met to weigh their response to the drone attack.
Separately, German police opened an investigation into an attempt to disrupt the operation of a power substation near Brandenburg. In a statement, Brandenburg police said they were leading a probe on suspicion of attempting to disrupt public services, causing an explosion and damaging critical infrastructure, as well as forming a terrorist organisation.
The attribution of the Leipzig attack to Moscow reflects the German government’s and EU officials’ position. The sources contain no comment or denial from Russia.
Why it matters
The attack and the EU's response mark an escalation in tensions between Europe and Russia over the war in Ukraine. The possibility of tapping frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv, and the framing of the incident as state-sponsored terrorism, could reshape how the bloc confronts hybrid threats on its own soil.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Leipzig?
A drone attack occurred in Leipzig last month, which Germany has formally blamed on Moscow. EU officials described it as having the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism.
How is the EU considering responding?
The EU said it was seriously considering using frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv. Countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland have signalled they are not opposed to the idea.
Was there another incident in Germany?
Yes. German police opened an investigation into an attempt to disrupt a power substation near Brandenburg, probing suspicion of disrupting public services, causing an explosion, damaging critical infrastructure and forming a terrorist organisation.