Ukraine: Germany accuses Russia of a drone attack on Leipzig Airport. Von der Leyen: ‘We will respond’

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also commented on the matter, stating that the allegations made by Germany are completely unfounded. “It is difficult to comment on the matter, as when such serious allegations are made, they must be backed up by evidence. If I am not mistaken, no evidence has been presented to support them. It is clear that Germany is heading down the path of further escalation,” said Peskov.

“This morning I spoke with Chancellor Merz to discuss the hybrid attack on Leipzig Airport. I assured him that the EU stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this attack by Russia. We will keep the EU united despite these serious and increasingly intense acts. The German government has taken decisive action. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go unanswered.” Ursula von der Leyen wrote this in a statement, explaining that the issue will be on the agenda tomorrow at her meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also expressed solidarity with Germany. ‘I have just spoken to Chancellor Merz. NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany following the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig on 14 August. The evidence is unequivocal. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response.’ NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wrote this on social media, reiterating that “NATO will continue to strengthen its ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat, including malicious actions such as those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere within the Alliance. Russian attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our resolve to support Ukraine, are futile and will fail.”

Support for Berlin also came from the British Government, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham making it clear that he stands alongside his German ally. On behalf of Italia, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed solidarity with Minister Wadephul and the entire German Government. ‘These threats will not halt Europe’s commitment to freedom and democracy. We will respond united to any attempt by Moscow to destabilise Europe. This evening in Ireland, we will address the issue of hybrid threats with our EU foreign ministers. We want peace in Ukraine, and it is Russia that must stop,” Tajani wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns Moscow: ‘The escalation cannot and will not remain confined to Ukrainian territory. Today we wish to warn every airline using Russian airspace, every insurer and anyone still using Russia’s major airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe.’ Zelensky makes it clear that his country ‘is not threatening civil aviation as such, nor any individual civil aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russian airspace on a scale that must be taken into account. The days of safe flying in Russian airspace are over.”

Kiev is calling for a resumption of negotiations and direct talks, but one does not negotiate with terrorists: this was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “They are asking us to resume negotiations; they are asking for face-to-face meetings. We do not negotiate with terrorists,” Putin said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan. Putin also described Zelensky’s threats against Russian airlines as an attempt at state-sponsored terrorism, adding that Russia would find a way to respond should Kyiv attempt to carry out such threats.

“Russia is hitting Europe with an ever-increasing wave of cyberattacks; they want to intimidate us. But today we have decided to step up our support for Ukraine, bolster our defences, and we are discussing the most substantial package of sanctions yet.” This was stated by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas at the conclusion of the informal Defence Council meeting. “Russia’s war is becoming increasingly ruthless and destructive, but unfortunately it does not seem anywhere near over. The Russian army is on its last legs on the ground, which is why it is killing civilians from the air. This is premeditated terrorism,” she emphasised. “Russia is also targeting Europe with a wave of increasingly kinetic hybrid attacks. In doing so, Russia aims to intimidate us to deter us from supporting Ukraine. It will not succeed. Air defence remains the top priority, but interceptor missiles are in short supply everywhere. I would like to thank Member States for reviewing their stocks. In particular, Patriot missiles nearing the end of their service life should be sent to Ukraine. Member States are also considering the possibility of reprioritising orders and reaching out to partners. ‘Every interceptor we supply to Ukraine means one fewer Russian missile hitting a Ukrainian school, home or hospital. And every bit of support we give to Ukraine strengthens European security,’ he stated.

Further tensions over a possible spread of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to the Baltic States. According to reports by the Estonian national broadcaster ERR, several drones triggered a night-time air raid alert in Latvia and subsequently entered Estonian airspace, where NATO fighter jets from the Baltic Air Policing mission continued to search for them. The news has been reported by press agencies in both Baltic states. At 3.11 am, the Estonian Defence Forces issued an air threat warning for several counties. Lieutenant Colonel Uku Arold, head of the Strategic Communications Department of the Estonian Defence Forces, stated that the drones had violated Estonian airspace and that Turkish Air Force fighter jets, stationed at Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO’s rotational air defence mission, had been scrambled in response. “There were drones moving parallel to Estonia’s eastern border and also to Latvia’s, before entering Estonian territory, which is why we raised the alert,” said Arold. The alert was lifted before 6 am, according to reports by ERR. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also stated that the drones had “entered Estonian airspace” during the night. In response to the situation, NATO fighter jets took off from Amari Air Base. Subsequently, the Estonian Defence Forces lifted the air alert. As Tsahkna emphasised, NATO reacted swiftly and exactly as expected: “The Alliance is vigilant and ready to protect allied territory,” the minister reiterated.

The European Union remains steadfast in its ‘commitment’ to Ukraine, ‘including the aid packages totalling 90–100 billion euros planned for this year and next, as well as further long-term financing initiatives’. The European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, speaking on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, ‘therefore urged our international partners to play their part by increasing their contributions and ensuring the necessary financial backing for the commitments made’.

US President Donald Trump’s remarks yesterday, in which he extended an olive branch to Russia regarding Moscow’s representative at the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in North Carolina, were significant. “We like to get on well with everyone. One of the reasons I’m so successful is that I get on well with everyone,’ said Trump from the Oval Office, responding to questions about the Russians’ presence at the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville.