Russia's Lavrov Accuses Germany of Wanting War Again

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected Berlin's accusation over a drone found at Leipzig Airport and responded with a charge of his own: Germany, he said, wants war again.

The dispute began after airport staff discovered an explosive-carrying drone near an Antonov Airlines cargo plane from Ukraine in early August. Leipzig Airport, a major freight hub in eastern Germany, temporarily closed after the device was found in a cargo area near the runway.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sept. 1 that intelligence agencies had identified similarities between the drone's configuration and components and equipment used by Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. The German government blamed Moscow and accused it of using "low-level operatives" in a planned hybrid attack against the strategically located airport.

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Overall, this is the beginning of a real war. They have closed the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. They are closing the Russian House in Berlin. I remember that before World War II began... They want war again.

The accusation has deepened tensions between Berlin and Moscow. Over the past week, the two countries closed each other's cultural centers, while several European Union members summoned Russian diplomats. German officials also said Berlin would seek to add more Russian citizens to the EU sanctions list and was considering tighter entry controls for Russians.

Lavrov said on Sept. 6 that these steps represented the start of a real war. He cited the closure of Russia's Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin, then said, "They want war again." He later warned that Russia's leadership would draw "appropriate conclusions." His remarks came as the Russia-Ukraine conflict entered its fifth year and Germany remained a major supporter of Kyiv.

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The Russian leadership will draw appropriate conclusions.