German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has responded to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim about the alleged “start of a real war” between Russia and Germany. According to Wadephul, such rhetoric reflects the Russian authorities’ desperation and their attempt to sow uncertainty within German society.
Wadephul stressed that Moscow is well aware of the reasons behind Berlin’s response to the drone incident at Leipzig Airport.
“We know perfectly well — and Sergei Lavrov, of course, also knows — that Russia did this in Leipzig and that we responded to it, that we had to respond. He knows this, and it is clear to everyone,” the minister said.
Germany’s foreign minister did not rule out the possibility that Lavrov deliberately made the inflammatory statement on the day of the election in Saxony-Anhalt. Wadephul suggested that Russia may have sought to heighten tensions and influence public sentiment.
He said the Kremlin was using every available tool to exert information pressure but insisted that such threats would not intimidate Germany.
“This rhetorical escalation is yet another sign of Russian desperation,” Wadephul concluded.
Lavrov previously claimed that the response of Western countries to the drone incident in Leipzig allegedly marked the “start of a real war.” On the night of August 5, a drone equipped with explosives and a detonator was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German police deployed a bomb disposal robot to remove it, while NATO confirmed that it was aware of the incident.
