European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday to discuss their joint response to Moscow’s hybrid threats, after Germany formally blamed Russia for an incident involving an explosive-laden drone at one of its airports.
The heads of the European Commission and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are set to hold talks in Brussels on Wednesday in response to a string of hybrid warfare incidents in Europe over the summer, including an attempted drone attack in Leipzig airport which the German government has formally attributed to Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that she would use the meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss the German incident, with additional sanctions to be prepared by foreign ministers at an upcoming meeting.
“We will keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts,” she said in a statement posted on social media platform X on Tuesday.
“The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response.”
The “short notice” bilateral was confirmed by European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho who said the meeting would also occur in the context of Europe and NATO strengthening defence cooperation.
A NATO official told Euronews the meeting would centre mostly on how to deepen coordination against hybrid threats.
In the wake of Germany formally attributing the August 4 drone incident to Russia, Rutte posted a statement on X, stating that NATO stands in full solidarity with Berlin and “the evidence is clear” that Russia was to blame.
“NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat — including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance,” he said.
Von der Leyen’s comments came after Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced on Tuesday that the “means to carry out the act” of a drone sabotage incident occurring in August is “known to use from other hybrid operations conducted by Russia and its war against Ukraine.”
“The German government therefore concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on 4 August,” he said.
Germany has ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, while the Russian House in Berlin will also be shut down. Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia’s actions form part of a “long series of attempts at destabilisation, disinformation, threats, sabotage and aggression directed at Europe.”
The Russian embassy in Germany has issued a statement denying Berlin’s claims and threatening “consequences” for the new sanctions.
On 4 August, a drone was found in the security zone of the Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies. Later, a second unmanned aerial vehicle also collided with an aircraft, with the plane unable to land.
Merz has previously vowed a response to the incidents, with action coordinated between EU and NATO allies.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also released a statement in late August condemning Europe for putting the blame on Moscow, noting that the accusations came before an investigation had been completed.
Europe must step up hybrid threat defences
Meanwhile, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia was hitting Europe with increasing kinetic hybrid incidents aiming to “scare us away” from supporting Ukraine.
“They will not succeed,” she said, following a defence ministerial meeting in Wicklow, Ireland. Kallas said it was obvious the risks from these incidents were rising, and “clearly we are not doing enough to stop this.”
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, delivering the press conference alongside Kallas, said “support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia” remains central to Ireland’s six-month EU council presidency.
“We are now starting to see threats materialise as recently as the last 24 hours, where our colleagues in Romania and Latvia and Estonia, and of course Germany, have spoken of incursions into their own airspace, but also into their own land domain,” she said.
Romania and Estonia both reported drone incursions occurring on Tuesday. Several improvised explosive devices were found near coal-fired power plant in Germany also on Tuesday.
On his way into the talks, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said Europe must prepare itself for more Russian hybrid warfare incidents.
“They are testing always this threshold — where is this red line,” he said, adding that Europe must keep a “very clear” head.
European solidarity rolls in for Germany
Elsewhere, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed their solidarity with Germany following the Leipzig incident.
“France stands in full solidarity with Germany and supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia,” Macron said, according to an online statement.
Meloni added: “Attempts to intimidate us or to drive a wedge between Allies will not succeed: hybrid actions against any one of us are a matter of concern for all of us, and will be met with a united response.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk went so far as to say that Russia is escalating tensions across Europe, but that the continent would not be intimidated. “Russia will not win this war,” he said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Russia wants to intimidate Europe and scare Ukraine’s allies. “This will fail,” he said, adding that he would chair a meeting of the National Security Council Wednesday morning.
“The strong measures taken by the German government show: Hybrid action against any one of us will be met with a clear response,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda added in his own separate statement. “Anyone who attacks us will pay a price,” he said.