EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on September 3 (local time) that the bloc would continue to tighten and add sanctions against Russia, following Berlin's official accusation that Moscow was behind a failed drone attack on a German airport.
Speaking to the media, Kallas stressed that “any plot threatening Europe will fail” and condemned the incident at Leipzig/Halle airport last week as a “state-sponsored terrorist act.” She said, “We are working on new proposals to tighten the enforcement of sanctions and will soon announce additional sanctions.”
Earlier, three explosive-laden drones were found in and around Leipzig/Halle airport on August 4, causing temporary disruption to air traffic. German authorities called it a targeted attack and blamed Russia, but Moscow denied all allegations. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the evidence presented by Germany as fabricated and “planted.”
In a post on X the same day, Kallas announced that the EU is preparing to add 1,600 more individuals and organizations related to Russia's military sector to its sanctions list, and that the bloc is “ready to add more.” She also said EU foreign ministers broadly support a proposal to ban former Russian military personnel from entering the bloc, and are considering further tightening visa policies for Russian travelers.
According to Kallas, Russia's representative to the EU has been summoned by the bloc and several member states to protest the incident. The EU has imposed sanctions on more than 3,000 Russian officials, oligarchs, and businesses since Moscow launched its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said on the same day that authorities are seeking to “dig deeper into Russia's war chest.” She described the attack at Leipzig/Halle airport as “a new escalation right on EU territory.”
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that Russia will face consequences for its actions and said a response is being prepared. On the Moscow side, Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed it had summoned Germany's ambassador to Russia, Bernd Finke, and stated that Russia “categorically rejects” any involvement in the failed drone attack.
It remains unclear how the EU's additional sanctions will affect Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, which is increasingly becoming a war of attrition. Kyiv continues to target energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, while Moscow exploits Ukraine's lack of interceptor systems to launch frequent airstrikes that cause civilian casualties.
