Germany's Greens have called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to act more decisively against Russia over the drone incident in Leipzig. "The federal government must finally stop being hesitant, evasive and timid," deputy Green parliamentary group leader Konstantin von Notz told the newspapers of the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) on Monday. The government has so far avoided any clear statement on who was behind the Leipzig drone attack, although suspicion falls primarily on Russia.
"Things must be called by their name, and the response must be decisive. Leipzig was a military action," von Notz said. "The population must be fully aware of what is going on," he emphasised.
The Green politician also called on Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to produce a "weekly situation report covering all incidents that can be attributed to Russian agents". He added that law enforcement pressure must be increased on agents "who have so far been able to move entirely undisturbed through Germany, spying and carrying out sabotage". Visa issuance for Russian nationals should also be tightened, he said, and pressure on the so-called shadow fleet significantly increased.
Von Notz further accused Dobrindt of papering over difficulties in establishing the new drone defence centre in Berlin. "The federal government's failures in detecting and countering hybrid threats are massive across the board," the Green politician said. He described a "lack of direction and lack of any concept on the part of the federal government" in the face of Russia's increasingly aggressive conduct.
On the evening of 4 August, a drone loaded with explosives was discovered at Leipzig Airport. Several Ukrainian cargo aircraft were parked nearby. The airport is regarded as a transhipment point for military aid deliveries to Ukraine in its war against Russia. According to media reports, indications of further drones were subsequently found.
Speaking in the ARD "Sommerinterview" on Sunday evening, Merz said: "We have a far-reaching agreement within the federal government on how we will respond, and we will also make that clear in the coming days." However, the government had already made similar statements several days earlier, and no such announcement has followed since. According to media reports, the plan is to hold Russia responsible for the incident and to announce countermeasures.
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