Lavrov warns of 'real war' after Western accusations over Leipzig airport drone incident

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday that Western accusations against Moscow over the drone incident at Germany's Leipzig airport represent, in his words, "the beginning of a real war."

Lavrov, quoted by Russia's state-run TASS news agency, also referred to Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), saying, "All these statements by Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again are being put into practice. In effect, he is declaring war on us."

Earlier this month, the German government concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack targeting Leipzig airport last month. In response, Berlin announced a series of measures, including the closure of a Russian consulate and cultural center in the capital.

The escalation comes amid rising tensions between Berlin and Moscow over the war in Ukraine, with both sides trading accusations over what Germany describes as "hybrid attacks" and operations targeting European infrastructure and interests.