The Romanian government expressed its full solidarity with Germany on Wednesday, September 2, following a drone incident at the Leipzig airport, which German authorities attributed to Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On August 4, a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig\/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, close to Ukrainian cargo planes. It failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty, and investigators suspect a second drone collided with a cargo aircraft nearby. A third drone was reportedly found near the airport 10 days later, according to the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Leipzig\/Halle Airport is used by Germany’s military and NATO allies for the transport of military goods and also serves as a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines. According to European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the incident displays \u201cthe characteristics of an act of state-sponsored terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n German authorities linked the incident to the hybrid war carried out by Russia against European countries as part of the war in Ukraine. In reply, Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence meant to incriminate Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n In this context, Romanian foreign minister Oana \u0162oiu<\/strong> said the country stands with Germany. \u201cThe Romanian government stands in full solidarity with Germany following the attribution of the Leipzig drone incident to the Russian state. This is another example of Russia\u2019s provocative behavior towards the EU and its Member States,\u201d the government said in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing the conclusions of the German authorities that Russia bears responsibility for the drone attack at Leipzig\/Halle Airport, we are acting collectively and firmly, as EU member states and NATO allies,\u201d interim foreign minister Oana \u0162oiu also said.<\/p>\n \u0162oiu added that \u201cRomania expresses its full solidarity with Germany and with the other European states that have witnessed hybrid activities, interference or reckless and persistent provocations from Russia, and Romania is among these countries.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur message is clear: we will not tolerate Russia\u2019s hybrid actions, and we will respond together. There will be no impunity. Deterrence requires both preparedness and the willingness to impose a real cost on the aggressor,\u201d Oana \u0162oiu further said.<\/p>\n She also decided to summon the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to provide explanations. A number of EU member states decided to do the same on Wednesday, September 2.<\/p>\n Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 44 drones illegally entered Romanian airspace, and 4 of them were shot down<\/a>.<\/p>\n