Der Spiegel: German officials urged Merz not to rush to blame Russia

Members of the German government urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz not to rush to accuse Russia over a drone incident at Leipzig Airport, Der Spiegel reports.

The outlet said, in late August, a closed-door meeting of the German cabinet took place, during which Merz held separate talks with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Security Adviser Günter Sautter.

Dobrindt reportedly warned that public accusations could jeopardise the investigation, while Wadephul cautioned about possible countermeasures from Russia.

On the night of August 5, a drone carrying explosives was found near a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft at Leipzig Airport. Later, a DHL cargo aircraft collided with an unidentified object in the air and sustained damage to its tail.

German investigators identified two suspects allegedly linked to the drone attack on the airport. According to media reports, they are citizens of Latvia and Belarus with ties to Russia.

The German government accused Russia of orchestrating a hybrid attack on Leipzig Airport and decided to close the Russian House in Berlin and the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. Dobrindt, however, clarified that Germany is not at war with Russia.

Moscow called the accusations unfounded and said Germany was pursuing a further escalation of tensions and would receive a fitting response.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov