Sergei Lavrov says accusations over Leipzig drone attack mark the “beginning of a real war”

Sergei Lavrov has sharply escalated his rhetoric in the dispute between Moscow and the West. The Russian foreign minister said accusations that Russia was responsible for the drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport were “basically the beginning of a real war.”

“

Basically the beginning of a real war.

Speaking on Sunday, according to the state news agency Tass, Lavrov also accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of effectively declaring war on Russia. He linked the accusation to Merz’s statements that Germany should again become Europe’s leading military power.

Merz has described the attribution of responsibility to Russia as “very clear, indisputable, and also defensible in court.” He said the German government had taken four weeks to examine the matter before drawing its conclusions.

“

He is effectively declaring war on us.

The Russian government rejected Germany’s accusations as baseless and accused Berlin of fabricating evidence. Merz said the government had responded with “a very clear warning to Russia” and had drawn the right consequences.

“

Very clear, indisputable, and also defensible in court.

At an event in Hannover-Langenhagen, Merz said anyone who attacked Germany should understand that the country was firmly determined to defend its rule of law, democracy, open society and territorial integrity. Germany and other Western governments have for some time accused Russia of conducting a hybrid war through disinformation campaigns and attacks, including killings allegedly carried out on Moscow’s behalf. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and Germany and other European countries have since supported Ukraine’s defense.

“

Anyone who attacks us must know: We are firmly determined to defend our rule of law, our democracy, our open society, and the integrity of our territory.