EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described Russia's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month as bearing "all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," as she prepares to lead talks on the bloc's political response. Kallas made the remarks ahead of informal talks between EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, focused on "what more we can do" after Germany formally blamed Russia for the security incident.
Kallas Calls for Wake-Up Call on Sanctions
Speaking to reporters in County Wicklow, Kallas said the incident should serve as a "wake-up call" for EU member states that have been slow to support further sanctions against Russia. "If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts, take it to a new level," she stated. The discussions are set to explore additional measures the EU can take in response to Russian aggression.
In a separate development, the EU and France have summoned top Russian officials to protest against the attack. Germany has officially blamed Russia for the drone incident at Leipzig airport, which occurred last month.
Focus on Ukraine Support and Escalation
Kallas indicated that the talks will also address how the EU can further assist Ukraine, noting that "Russia is escalating and killing the civilians and causing as much harm as they can." The informal ministerial meeting is part of a broader EU effort to coordinate a unified response to Russian actions.
Later today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to meet separately with Nato's Mark Rutte, with the Leipzig incident and Ukraine also expected to dominate their discussions.
Other Diplomatic Engagements
In other diplomatic activity, Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten will host French president Emmanuel Macron today. Macron is then expected to travel to Britain for talks with PM Andy Burnham.
These meetings come amid heightened tensions following the Leipzig attack, which has prompted calls for a stronger EU stance against Russia. The outcome of today's discussions in Ireland could shape the bloc's next steps on sanctions and support for Ukraine.
