Zürcher Nachrichten - EU summons Russia envoys, eyes sanctions after Germany drone 'attack'

The incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport has heightened fears over a sabotage campaign that the EU and NATO say is a Russian attempt to destabilise Ukraine's backers.

"It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Ireland.

"The question is, what do we do about this?"

Kallas said the EU had summoned the Russian envoy, and member states were doing the same.

"We will not let an act of such gravity go unpunished," French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, adding he had called in Russia's envoy in Paris.

Kallas said that EU foreign ministers agreed to keep working on a proposal to impose sanctions on 1,600 individuals and entities linked to Russia's military industry in the hope of adopting them next month.

"Seeing these hybrid attacks across Europe, I think these are also wake-up calls for the countries who have not been so strong, maybe on this," she said.

"If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts. Take it to a new level."

Germany blamed Moscow for the Leipzig incident on Tuesday and said it was shutting a Russian consulate and ending the contract for a cultural centre in Berlin.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin in televised comments later branded those moves "another mistake, a serious one", saying it "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people".

- 'Live with the consequences' -

Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul said there was a "large number of people who can now be sanctioned in addition.

"Russia has escalated, Russia has carried out this hybrid attack, and now Russia must live with the consequences," he said, speaking from Ireland.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the Leipzig incident marked "a new escalation" in Europe.

"This was an attack using military-grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil," she said after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte, adding: "We will not tolerate it."

But von der Leyen also warned such incidents had become a "new normal" for Europe as Russia steps up destabilising activities.

"We do not seek conflict with Russia, but Russia seems to be at hybrid war with us," said Polish top diplomat Radoslaw Sikorski.

"We are no longer in regular peacetime."

While the level of rhetoric is being ramped up -- some said that Europe's response has failed to match its strong words.

Lithuania's foreign minister Kestutis Budrys called for more to be done to punish Moscow for its actions.

"We have to consider what options we have in our hands and respond, because it is obvious Russia does not see the political cost of the hybrid activities against us," he said.

Kallas said that there was "broad consensus" to continue work on a proposal to ban visas for Russians who fought in Ukraine and increase restrictions for tourists.

She added, without giving details, that there had also been new pledges of desperately-needed air defence missiles for Ukraine.

Discussion has resurfaced on whether the bloc should tap some 200 billion euros ($235 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to fund Ukraine.

"I think this is a fair approach to start serious discussion on how we could use immobilised frozen assets," said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.

The EU last year failed to agree a plan to employ the Russian funds, and instead came up with a 90 billion euro loan off its own back.

But there is already a sense that the loan will not be enough for the two years it was intended to keep Kyiv afloat.

L.Zimmermann--NZN