Russian Threats Threaten Europe
Polish President Accuses Russia of Destabilizing Europe Amid Rising Security Incidents
Anonymous
Russian officials have issued threats against several European countries even as President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump that Russia had no aggressive plans toward Europe. The threats have coincided with suspected hybrid incidents, including an attempted drone attack near Leipzig/Halle Airport that Germany blamed on Russia, which Moscow denied, and other drone and military encounters in the region. Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki warned the U.N. that Russia’s aggression and destabilizing operations threaten Europe and international law, while saying Poland is strengthening its defenses to deter conflict rather than seek confrontation. Separately, Moldovan businessman Vasile Tofan warned that Russian propaganda could help extremist parties gain power in Europe. Russia, for its part, accused the European Union of preparing in advance to condemn Russian parliamentary elections as flawed, a claim reported by Russian state media.
Key Points
1
The drone found near Leipzig/Halle Airport in August was carrying military-grade explosives and was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo plane; the airport is also a major logistics hub used by NATO. The device did not detonate.
2
A separate drone carrying an explosive device entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and was shot down by an Italian NATO fighter. Lithuanian officials said its origin and intended target were still under investigation.
3
The same day as the Lithuanian drone incident, a Russian warship fired flares toward a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea.
4
At the U.N., Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki called for effective accountability mechanisms, warning that without them there would be no lasting peace and international law would be “a declaration devoid of true power.”
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