Germany pointed the finger at Russia, but its pro-Russian voters are unlikely to budge

Germany openly accused Russia on Tuesday after authorities named Moscow as responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport. The airport had found an explosive drone on August 4, and officials said it could have caused extensive destruction.

The attack remained an attempt, but German authorities said the trail led back to the Kremlin. The accusation marked a clear statement from official Germany, according to Helsingin Sanomat foreign affairs correspondent Heikki Aittokoski.

Yet Aittokoski argues that the country’s pro-Russian electorate is unlikely to shift. More than 40% of Germans support parties sympathetic to Russia on either the far right or the far left. The analysis focuses on the tension between Germany’s official response and the continuing strength of pro-Russian parties among voters.