BRUSSELS -- The recent incident at Leipzig Airport in which explosive-laden drones interrupted flights is the "new normal," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on September 2, vowing more restrictive measures on Moscow."Leipzig marks a new escalation on European soil, directly attributed to Russia," she said. "Every loophole Russia exploits is one we must close. We are looking at ways to cut even deeper into Russia's war chest."Von der Leyen was speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte a day after Germany officially blamed Russia for the August 4-5 drone incident and as the European Union and several member states summoned Moscow's ambassadors in protest."Europeans are faced with a hard truth that this is the new normal," she said.Rutte said Russia had grown "increasingly reckless" with "more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk.".
On September 1 German authorities said they would close the Russian Consulate in Bonn and terminate the lease on a Russian cultural center in Berlin as a result of the attempted drone attack.France, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands announced on September 2 that they were summoning Russian ambassadors over the incident, and the European Union said it would summon Moscow's representative to Brussels.Europe Seeks A ResponseAlexander Astrov, a political analyst and associate professor at the Central European University in Vienna, told RFE/RL's Current Time that Europe faces the issue of responding to Russia's actions while remaining within international law."How do you respond to what is now being called out as Russia's hybrid actions while remaining within the legal framework?" he asked, saying that the diplomatic steps taken so far are an attempt to do that.He added, though, that while "these attacks are part of the broader process of escalation of the war....all sides are interested in ensuring that this escalation remains a controlled one."
