European and NATO leaders expressed their support for Germany after an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport on August 4. Regarding the incident, which Germany attributed to Russia, the leaders called for a coordinated response and stronger European deterrence.
European Council President Antonio Costa condemned the attempt in the strongest terms and accused Moscow of escalating its aggression. Costa said the European Union stood in full solidarity with Germany and that pressure would continue until Russia showed a willingness to change its position.
Preparations for new sanctions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had discussed the incident with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and conveyed the European Union's support. Saying that hybrid attacks could not be allowed to pass without a clear response, von der Leyen announced that possible new sanctions would be prepared at the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers during Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also spoke with Merz and reiterated the alliance's solidarity with Germany. Rutte said the evidence was clear, welcomed the measures announced by Berlin and said NATO would continue strengthening the capacity of all its allies to deter and defend against threats.
Rutte also said that support for Ukraine would continue unchanged and that the commitment to NATO's collective defense remained firm.
Allies pledge a joint response
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said attempts to divide or intimidate the allies would not succeed. According to Meloni, hybrid actions against any ally concern all countries and will receive a joint response.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb described the incident in Leipzig as part of a Russian strategy aimed at intimidating European countries and weakening support for Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said incidents affecting Poland, the Baltic states, Romania and Germany showed that Russia was increasing tensions in the region.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said any hybrid action targeting an ally would result in a clear response. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the incident as a new and dangerous phase in the alleged Russian hybrid attacks in Europe and called for greater support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he supported Germany's response and announced that he would chair a meeting of the Swedish National Security Council. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said hybrid attacks against NATO allies were unacceptable and would receive a strong response.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the attempt was aimed at intimidating Europe but would have the opposite effect, and declared full solidarity with Germany. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar also conveyed his country's message of solidarity to Merz.
Support for Berlin's attribution to Russia
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said the number and intensity of alleged Russian hybrid activities carried out on European soil were concerning. Orbán called for stronger resilience, unity and joint preparedness within the European Union and NATO.
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger described the attempted drone attack in Leipzig, together with cyberattacks, attempted acts of sabotage and disinformation campaigns, as a new escalation.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Berlin's attribution to Russia was extremely serious and called for Russia's ambassador to be summoned. Prévot supported the measures announced by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and said that an operation involving explosives on European soil constituted an extremely grave hostile act.
Prévot also said that European and allied territory was not an area where Russia could act with impunity. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said unity among the allies was one of the fundamental elements of common security and expressed full solidarity with Germany.
