EU, Member States Summon Russian Envoys Over Leipzig Drone Incident

The European Union and several of its member states have summoned Russian embassy officials in response to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, according to officials on Wednesday.

The move follows Germany's announcement on Tuesday that it had concluded Russia was behind the incident. Berlin responded by ordering a series of measures, including the closure of a Russian consulate and a cultural centre in the capital.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc's diplomatic service had summoned the Russian ambassador in Brussels over the matter. She spoke during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he had summoned the Russian charge d'affaires in Paris to protest, and called for European-level sanctions, particularly targeting Russia's shadow fleet.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen described the Leipzig incident as "completely unacceptable" and said he had summoned the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands. Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot also said he had summoned the Russian ambassador, noting the attack was part of a broader pattern of "unacceptable incursions" on the territory of EU and NATO allies in recent months.

Russia's ambassador to Germany was summoned on Tuesday. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond to what she called Berlin's "anti-Russian action," without providing further details. The Russian Embassy in Berlin had earlier dismissed the accusations as a "fabricated provocation" and part of a "new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany."