Μake us preferred on Google The European Union and several of its member states have summoned Russian diplomats over an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, escalating tensions between Moscow and European governments.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Wednesday that the bloc’s diplomatic service had summoned Russia’s ambassador in Brussels over the incident.
Germany, which said Tuesday that its investigation had concluded Russia was responsible, has already announced measures in response. They include closing a Russian consulate and a Russian cultural center in Berlin.
Moscow has rejected the accusation, saying Germany has provided no evidence to substantiate its claims and warning that it will respond.
France, Netherlands and Belgium join protests
France also summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Paris, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. He called for a European response and said sanctions should be considered, particularly against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said the Leipzig incident was “completely unacceptable” and confirmed that the Russian ambassador in the Netherlands had been summoned.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Tuesday that he had similarly summoned Russia’s ambassador in Brussels.
Prevot described the incident as part of what he called a broader series of unacceptable incursions into the territory of EU and NATO member states in recent months.
Russia’s ambassador to Germany was also summoned by Berlin on Tuesday.
Moscow rejects accusations
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond to what she described as Berlin’s “anti-Russian action,” according to the Interfax news agency. She did not provide details about what measures Russia might take.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin had previously rejected the allegations as a “fabricated provocation” and accused Germany of engaging in what it called a new wave of anti-Russian sentiment.
