EU, NATO Seek Stronger Response To Russian Threat After Leipzig 'Escalation'

BRUSSELS -- The recent incident at Leipzig Airport in which explosive-laden drones interrupted flights is the "new normal," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on September 2, vowing more restrictive measures on Moscow.

"Leipzig marks a new escalation on European soil, directly attributed to Russia," she said. "Every loophole Russia exploits is one we must close. We are looking at ways to cut even deeper into Russia's war chest."

Von der Leyen was speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte a day after Germany officially blamed Russia for the August 4-5 drone incident and as the European Union and several member states summoned Moscow's ambassadors in protest.

"Europeans are faced with a hard truth that this is the new normal," she said.

Rutte said Russia had grown "increasingly reckless" with "more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk.".

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On September 1 German authorities said they would close the Russian Consulate in Bonn and terminate the lease on a Russian cultural center in Berlin as a result of the attempted drone attack.

France, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands announced on September 2 that they were summoning Russian ambassadors over the incident, and the European Union said it would summon Moscow's representative to Brussels.

Europe Seeks A Response

Alexander Astrov, a political analyst and associate professor at the Central European University in Vienna, told RFE/RL's Current Time that Europe faces the issue of responding to Russia's actions while remaining within international law.

"How do you respond to what is now being called out as Russia's hybrid actions while remaining within the legal framework?" he asked, saying that the diplomatic steps taken so far are an attempt to do that.

He added, though, that while "these attacks are part of the broader process of escalation of the war....all sides are interested in ensuring that this escalation remains a controlled one."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte hold a press conference in Brussels on September 2.

Patriots For Ukraine?

Von der Leyen also said that Ukraine had made a formal request for PAC-3 Patriot air defense systems following Russia's increasing attacks on Ukrainian cities and mounting civilian casualties.

"Member states are currently looking at Ukraine's request, but I can say that it is going in the right direction," Von der Leyen noted.

Several EU diplomats have told RFE/RL under condition of anonymity that Brussels is also currently pushing other allies such as Japan and South Korea to deliver air defenses to Kyiv ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month.

Separately, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was briefing his EU counterparts at an informal gathering in Ireland on September 2 that is looking at levying further sanctions against Russia.

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With German media reporting that the alleged perpetrator of the Leipzig incident entered into the bloc using a Schengen tourist visa issued by Italy, EU foreign ministers also discussed an earlier proposal to curb their use.

This something that Mediterranean countries heavily dependent on summer vacationers previously have opposed, with numbers of approvals of Schengen tourists visas for Russian nationals surging last year.

Speaking after the meeting, the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said there was “broad support” for the move but not unanimity.

“Many member states have flagged this before that actually these kinds of tourist visas are used for the sabotage acts because these people need to get into the European Union so, if it is true, I hope that this also convinces certain member states who have been against moving on the visa restrictions,” she said.

Ahead of the meeting, the EU foreign policy corps, the European External Action Service, sent out a proposal to EU capitals to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 1,600 Russian individuals and companies largely involved in the country's defense sector with a view to adopt the measures next month.

The EU is also expected next week to prolong its current blacklist of 3,000 people and entities that the bloc has imposed sanctions on since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Most EU member states want an extension by 12 months as opposed to the regular six months but Slovakia, whose government is considered Moscow-friendly, is still pushing for a six-month rollover and for some Russian oligarchs to be removed from the list.