Russia Summons German Envoy as Berlin Shuts Consulate Over Drone Attack
Russia summoned Germany's charge d'affaires in Moscow after Berlin blamed it for a drone attack plot and announced consulate closures.
Russia has summoned Germany's top diplomat in Moscow, escalating tensions between the two countries over a foiled attack plot on German soil.
Bernd Finke, the German Chargé d'Affaires, was called to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, a day after Berlin formally accused Moscow of orchestrating an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
The German government announced on Tuesday that it would close a Russian consulate and take other punitive measures in response to the incident, which involved an explosives-laden drone targeting the airport last month.
The summoning of Finke marks the latest diplomatic fallout between the two nations, with Moscow responding swiftly to Berlin's accusations and subsequent actions. The move signals a deepening rift in bilateral relations, which have been strained over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and related security concerns.
Details of the discussions at the Foreign Ministry have not been disclosed. The development follows a pattern of reciprocal diplomatic measures between Russia and European nations amid heightened security alerts across the continent.