EU calls Leipzig drone attack attempt 'state-sponsored terrorism'

The European Union's foreign policy chief has described an attempted drone attack on a German airport as bearing the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism, as the bloc considers its next steps.

Speaking on Wednesday before chairing a meeting of EU defence ministers in Ireland, Kaja Kallas said the attack, which Germany has blamed on Russia, raises the question of what more Europe can do in response.

German authorities have attributed the incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Moscow. The drone, laden with explosives, was discovered near a Ukrainian aircraft on August 4 and was defused. German officials have said the episode represented a new level of threat.

Kallas noted that EU member states have already summoned Russian ambassadors and that the bloc has prepared listings targeting 1,600 entities linked to Russia's military complex, with the possibility of further additions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the act as a continuation of Russia's aggression. He said France has summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires in Paris to protest, citing well-documented evidence provided by Germany that indicated an intent to sabotage the aircraft and logistics facility used to support Ukraine. Barrot added that broader collective sanctions should follow so that such an act does not go unpunished.

The EU has already imposed nearly two dozen sanction packages on Russia over its war in Ukraine, targeting thousands of individuals and entities, including President Vladimir Putin, oligarchs, lawmakers, banks, and companies linked to energy and drone production. The measures largely consist of asset freezes and travel bans, and also cover entities in countries seen as backers of Russia, including Belarus, China, Iran, and North Korea.

Western officials have widely accused Moscow of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and destabilising Europe. While the nature of the Leipzig incident may warrant a new approach, member states remain cautious about being drawn into open conflict with the nuclear-armed country.