After the incident in Leipzig, Berlin is preparing for new steps against Russia (Photo: REUTERS/Axel Schmidt)
According to the outlet, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to announce “broad” restrictive measures against Moscow. They could be imposed alongside new sanctions being prepared by the European Union.
The announcement is expected early next week, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. However, the measures could be announced earlier, depending on the chancellor’s decision.
Sources told Politico that Berlin believes expelling Russian diplomats or closing Russian institutions would not be sufficient in response to the incident. Germany is considering tougher measures, ranging from stronger sanctions to a possible increase in military aid to Ukraine.
It remains unclear whether the measures would target specific Russian officials, individual entities or the Russian government as a whole.
On Aug. 25, Merz said the drone incident in Leipzig would have serious consequences.
“The drone attack in Leipzig shows, among other things, that we are facing very real threats. The federal government is making those responsible for hybrid attacks pay a price. They will pay for this,” the chancellor said.
At the same time, a German government spokesperson said authorities would not speculate before the investigation was completed and that responsibility must be formally established.
Leipzig airport drone incident on Aug. 5
Overnight Aug. 5, a drone carrying a detonator and explosives was discovered at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport, which has served as a base for Ukrainian Antonov aircraft since 2022. The drone was found on the runway near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo plane.
Flights were diverted because of the incident. A DHL cargo plane delayed its landing and made an additional circuit when it collided in midair with an unidentified object, possibly another drone, which the pilots later confirmed.
On Aug. 6, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incident was not the work of amateurs and that a foreign state could have been involved.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said no one was injured at Leipzig airport and that aircraft belonging to Ukrainian company Antonov were not damaged.
Media reports said the An-124 was carrying ammunition, but Germany’s Interior Ministry denied the reports.
U.S. officials familiar with intelligence on the incident told The Wall Street Journal that the drone carrying explosives likely belonged to the Russian government.
On Aug. 25, NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung reported in a joint investigation that three drones were involved in the attempted attack on the Ukrainian An-124 cargo plane in Leipzig and that the planned strike was intended to be larger in scale than previously reported.
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