Germany to Blame Russia for Leipzig Drone Attack, Plans Sanctions

Germany is preparing to formally attribute an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia and announce significant sanctions, marking a potential escalation in Berlin's stance towards Moscow. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to make the announcement early next week, possibly coinciding with an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Ireland.

Sources familiar with the matter described the planned move as 'Zeitenwende 2.0,' referencing the historic shift in German defense policy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The drone, rigged with explosives, was reportedly intended to strike a Ukrainian cargo plane. U.S. intelligence assessments have also linked Russia to the incident, drawing parallels to previous suspected sabotage attacks in Europe.

Alongside Germany's planned measures, the European Union is concurrently preparing a comprehensive new sanctions package. This includes reviewing approximately 1,600 listings, comprising 800 individuals and 800 companies. Discussions are also underway regarding the potential use of frozen Russian state bank assets, though this faces resistance from Belgium, where a significant portion of these assets are held.

The planned announcement comes amid a period of heightened tensions and a series of security-related incidents across NATO countries, which some officials have termed 'hybrid warfare.' These include a marine drone discovery in Romania, a foiled arson attack in Slovakia, and an arson attack in Estonia, with varying degrees of suspected Russian involvement.

Domestically, the timing of Merz's expected announcement is sensitive due to upcoming state elections in Germany, where the pro-Russia Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is leading in polls in some regions. The German government has stated that official attribution will only be made after thorough investigation and with sufficient evidence.