The perpetrator of the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport remains unclear. But according to media reports, the federal government suspects Russia was behind the attack. The Reuters news agency learned this from security circles. Der Spiegel reports that the federal government blames the Russian secret service for the incident at the beginning of August. The Bild newspaper also reports, with reference to security circles, that the trail of the incident "presumably leads to a Russian secret service."
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had already announced a balanced and considered response. “There are no overreactions on our part, but reactions when we are attacked,” said the CDU politician. Germany will not allow itself to be intimidated in any way - "that will continue to be the basic attitude of our politics." He announced a consistent response from the federal government in the ZDF morning magazine.
In the late afternoon at 5:30 p.m., he and Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt want to comment on Germany's reaction to the attempted drone attack. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin. The ARD capital studio learned from delegation circles that Wadephul would interrupt his onward journey to the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Ireland in the late afternoon for an urgent meeting with Dobrindt.
No actor named yet - "foreign powers"
Media have been reporting on an impending announcement for days and, citing confidential sources, suspect that the federal government will blame Russia for the incident. So far, the government has not attributed the attempted attack to Russia and has spoken of "foreign powers."
At the beginning of August, a drone with explosives and a detonator was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The airport is considered a hub for arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Demand: focus on shadow fleet
In response, CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter called for the delivery of “Taurus” cruise missiles to Ukraine. This would be “a particularly effective and credible response and therefore urgently needed,” he told Handelsblatt. Kiesewetter also called for the activation of Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which provides for consultations between allies in the event of an external threat. The Russian shadow fleet also needs to be more strictly controlled.
Parliamentary State Secretary Sebastian Hartmann emphasized that “all spotlights must be focused on the shadow fleet”. With the often dilapidated tankers, Russia circumvents international sanctions and finances its war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law.
Further sanctions?
The drone incident is also a topic at the meeting of EU defense ministers and foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland. We are first waiting for the German classification, reports ARD correspondent Tina Hassel from Wicklow. "The beams and the Eastern Europeans in particular have said that it's not just about Leipzig. Incidents with drones are increasing everywhere." Russia is suspected. The EU is therefore preparing new sanctions, said Hassel, but it is difficult to agree on large packages. Therefore, they now want to massively expand sanctions against Russian individuals and organizations.
According to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, there are many indications that Russia has something to do with the explosive drone found at Leipzig airport. She made that connection, but it was ultimately up to the Germans to say what was behind the incident, she said in Wicklow.
