Germany has blamed Russia for a drone attack last month near Leipzig Airport. EU ministers met on Wednesday to consider their response, including whether frozen Russian assets should be used to support Kyiv.
EU Ministers and Leipzig Airport
Mark Rutte said “Russia has grown increasingly reckless” as the discussion unfolded. The accusation has pushed the issue from a German security case into an EU political test, with the ministers weighing a response that could move from condemnation to financial pressure.
German police also opened an investigation yesterday into an attempt to disrupt the operation of a power substation near Brandenburg. Brandenburg police said they were leading a probe on suspicion of attempting to disrupt public services, causing an explosion and damaging critical infrastructure as well as forming a terrorist organisation, while searches around the substation continued.
Russia Rejects Germany
Vladimir Putin called Germany’s decision to attribute the drone attack to Russia “a grave mistake.” Dmitry Medvedev went further on Telegram, accusing the German government of a “neo-Nazi, rabidly Russophobic” policy and saying “they deserve a direct strike against all German facilities manufacturing military hardware” for Ukraine.
The response in the EU has not settled on a single course. The EU said it was seriously considering using frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv, while Antonio Tajani said Italy was not opposed in principle but needed to see whether there was a legal basis. Tajani also said Russia could try to influence Italy’s general election next year and contests in France, Poland, and Spain, and that Italy was already monitoring cyber threats and other possible forms of Russian interference.
Frozen Assets in EU Debate
Andrii Sybiha called renewed talks on using Russian frozen assets for Ukraine “a fair approach.” For readers tracking the next move, the practical question is whether the EU turns that discussion into a legal step that would free up money for Kyiv, or leaves the dispute at the level of warnings and counterclaims.
