Leipzig drone incident marks new escalation by Russia in Europe: ​Ursula von der Leyen

Brussels: The attempted drone ​attack in Leipzig ​that has been attributed to ​Russia marks a new escalation on European soil and will only strengthen the ‌EU's resolve to ⁠increase ⁠pressure on Russia, European Commission President ​Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

"This ​was an attack using military grade material, carried out by Russian operatives ​on European Union ⁠soil," von ‌der Leyen told reporters ​in Brussels, ​adding that there could ⁠have been a loss of life ​had it succeeded.

"Europe and NATO ​will not just maintain our pressure on Russia. We will increase it and we will not stop."


Von der Leyen said ‌the incident was part of "a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous ​incidents".

"Europeans ​are faced ⁠with a hard truth that this is the new normal," she said. "We have ​to step up."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed Von der Leyen's views, adding that Russia had grown "increasingly reckless."