The two leaders take no questions and wrap their press conference up after statements.
That’s a shame as there are no doubts many questions that could be asked here, including on the US’s apparent reluctance to name Russia as the country behind the Leipzig attack ( 12:00 ).
'Russia has grown increasingly reckless,' Nato's Rutte says
Rutte continues by warning that “Russia has grown increasingly reckless.”
“We have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk. We have also seen an increase in malign activities targeting our territory directly, whether there’s fires set in factories producing defence equipment for Ukraine, or indeed the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig.”
He offers Nato’s solidarity with Germany.
He says “the danger Russia poses is clear,” with Nato “working round the clock to keep our people safe.”
“ If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threats, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, t hey are mistaken. Our unity is unshaken.”
He says he agrees with von der Leyen on all points.
He says it’s clear that “ allies are united in their commitment to each other, to our collective defence, ” as he goes through his usual spiel on increase defence spending in recent years.
'Every loophole Russia exploits is one we must close,' EU's von der Leyen says
von der Leyen says that EU sanctions have weakened Russia’s economy, but more needs to be done.
“We can more use more sanctions and have them ready to impose as soon as such dangerous, life threatening acts are attributed. Every loophole Russia exploits is one we must close.”
She also repeatedly says the EU will continue supporting Ukraine, with a new payment request from Kyiv to pay for Ukrainian air defence systems.
She says the EU is working closely with Nato to “mobilise its defence surge even sooner” than previously anticipated.
“We will continue, we will prevail and we will deter anyone who attacks our freedom and our security. ”
EU, Nato 'will not just maintain pressure on Russia; we will increase it,' von der Leyen says
von der Leyen continues by saying that the Leipzig attack fits “a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents,” including “repeated incursions in our airspace, drones that paralyse our airports, and interference with our critical infrastructure.”
“ Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up, and that means being ready to respond to Russia’s recklessness faster and better.”
She says the EU will support any member state that Russia targets.
“Europe and Nato will not just maintain our pressure on Russia, we will increase it.”
Leipzig attack 'marks a new escalation on EU soil', von der Leyen says
von der Leyen opens the press conference.
She says their meeting is to discuss the German government’s decision to name Russia as responsible for the Leipzig drone attack.
She says that had the attack succeeded, it would have caused significant damage and possibly loss of life.
“So I want to be very clear about what this was. This was an attack using military grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil. We will not tolerate it. We stand in full solidarity with Germany.
If the intention was to make us think twice about supporting Ukraine, I can tell you it has only strengthened my resolve. Intimidation will not work.”
She says the Leipzig attack “marks a new escalation on EU soil, directly attributed to Russia.”
EU's von der Leyen and Nato's Rutte brief media on alleged Russia sabotage, Ukraine
European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte are about to address the press.
They are expected to give their statements in response to Germany’s decision to formally blame Moscow for the attempted Leipzig drone attack last month.
Obviously, I will bring you the key lines here, too.
Russian airspace becoming unsafe for commercial airlines, Zelenskyy says
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia’s airspace is becoming unsafe for commercial airlines, as Vladimir Putin promised to step up strikes against Ukraine’s energy facilities in the run-up to winter.
The Ukrainian president said there was no intention to directly threaten civilian flights, but the growing number of Ukrainian attack drones flying into the country would have to be “taken into account” by the aviation industry.
“We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe, ” he said in a statement.
A rapid escalation of Ukrainian military capability in the past few months has allowed the country’s forces to strike locations deep inside Russia.
Reliable figures for the number of drone flights are hard to obtain but Ukraine is already capable of launching several hundred a day, and military sources say the country is chasing a target of 1,000 drones in an effort to hurt Russia’s economy.
Ukraine’s commercial airspace has been closed since the beginning of the full scale invasion in February 2022 because Russia has been able to strike targets throughout the country, making airports unsafe for civilians.
Related: Russian airspace becoming unsafe for commercial airlines, Zelenskyy says
US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker offered the US solidarity with Germany “in the face of efforts to cause harm and chaos on Nato territory” – but without naming the country or party behind these efforts.
“ The United States stands in solidarity with Germany and all Allies in the face of efforts to cause harm and chaos on Nato territory.
We remain committed to Nato’s collective defense and clear-eyed about the need for Allies to increase their capabilities to deter all threats to the Alliance.”
Alexander Throm, who heads German parliament’s domestic affairs committee, told Reuters the number of disruptive incidents before this weekend’s election in the state of Saxony-Anhalt was “extremely suspicious“.
Opinion polls suggest the AfD , an anti-immigrant party with strong support in the east, could win power for the first time at state level.
The party has called for an end to German support for Ukraine and a resumption of energy agreements with Moscow that provided Germany with cheap oil and gas until supplies were halted in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Germany steps up probe into Brandenburg substation incident
German police have opened a investigation into yesterday’s attempt to disrupt the operation of a power substation near Brandenburg.
In a statement , Brandenburg police said they were leading a probe on suspicion of attempting to disrupt public services, causing an explosion and damaging critical infrastructure as well as forming a terrorist organisation
“ Further information cannot be released at this time in order not to jeopardise the ongoing investigation,” it said.
There is currently no indication of who could be behind the incident, with Germany on high alert over possible Russian sabotage, but also due to previous activity of suspected left-wing militants.
Germany's move to blame Russia for Leipzig drone incident 'a grave mistake,' Putin says
Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin said the German decision to attribute the drone attack to Russia was “a grave mistake,” as he attempted to question the evidence behind the decision.
He also suggested that Berlin was blaming Russia to distract from its own domestic problems.
Former president Dmitry Medvedev lashed out against the German government on Telegram, accusing it of “neo-Nazi, rabidly Russophobic” policy and saying “they deserve a direct strike against all German facilities manufacturing military hardware” for Ukraine.
In an angry outburst on Telegram , Medvedev also appeared to suggest that a train carrying European leaders to Kyiv could become a target for Russian strikes if Ukraine were to follow through on its warnings about closing skies above Russia.
Related: Russian airspace becoming unsafe for commercial airlines, Zelenskyy says
“Every act of terror has its sponsors. At present, that’s the leaders of western nations, primarily European ones, and they frequently travel to Kyiv by train,” he said.
Italy not opposed to using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, minister says
After the EU said it was seriously considering using frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv following the hybrid drone attack in Germany, Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said on Wednesday Rome was not opposed to the idea, joining countries including the Netherlands, Spain and Poland.
“ We’re not opposed in principle, but we need to see whether there is a legal basis for doing so, ” Tajani told state news agency Ansa, referring to calls from some countries to confiscate frozen Russian assets and use them to help Ukraine.
“ The issue has always been that there may be legal problems with taking such action. We have discussed it many times, both within the European Union and in other international forums, and no decision was taken precisely for this reason – not for political reasons, but legal ones,” he added.
Tajani also warned that Russia could try to influence Italy’s general election next year, and contests in other countries such as France, Poland, and Spain.
“It cannot be ruled out that there may be attempts to influence elections in countries where voting is taking place ,” he said on arrival at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland.
“I’m convinced it could happen, which is why we need to act early,” Tajani said, adding that Italy was already monitoring cyber threats and other possible forms of Russian interference.
Restarting talks on frozen Russian assets 'a fair approach,' Ukrainian minister says
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday it was a “fair approach” to renew talks on using Russian frozen assets for Ukraine.
“I think this is a fair approach to start serious discussion how we could use immobilised frozen assets,” Sybiha said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, quoted by Reuters.
Four European Union countries – the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden – earlier this month urged the EU to reopen discussion on using Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine.
Russia's attempts to divide Europe will fail, UK's Miliband says
Britain’s foreign secretary Ed Miliband is also taking part in today’s talks in Ireland.
“ We see an attempt by Russia to divide us in Europe and to deter us from our support for Ukraine. And I say very clearly today, on behalf of the United Kingdom, this attempt will fail. ”
He says that the UK “will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends with Ukraine,” as it has since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
He says the UK knows Russia’s tactics “from the past Russian attacks on our soil,” and “these attempts to divide us will not work.”
Russia 'must live with consequences' of its actions, German minister says
Wadephul says he is “impressed by the strong European support” for Berlin’s decision to attribute the Leipzig attack to Russia, with “a great deal of unity” from colleagues.
“It is very important that Russia clearly sees that Europe stands together, ” he says.
He says Russia “must understand” that its approach will not work.
He says the German decision to attribute the attack to Russia was “a well-founded opinion and judgment.”
“Russia must now live with the consequences,” he says, pointing to “necessary and appropriate response” proposed yesterday.
Wadephul says that in the coming weeks the EU will be working on expanding its sanctions, which would target “a large number of individuals.”
Let’s go back to Wicklow and listen to German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, who will be briefing his EU counterparts today on the latest in the Leipzig investigation and Berlin’s reasoning for formally naming Russia as responsible for the attempted drone attack.
Germany investigating suspected attempt to disrupt power grid at another substation
Separately, German police are also investigating another attempt to disrupt the country’s energy grid, this time at a electricity substation in Bergheim in the west of the country.
A local police spokesperson said they are “not assuming a technical failure but a deliberate act,” without revealing more details. The region’s power supply was not affected.
Again, like with yesterday’s incident at a substation near a coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg, the issue of attribution here is not straightforward.
AFP notes that German authorities are on high alert for attacks on vital infrastructure after Berlin blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response.
But Germany’s electricity grid has been hit by attacks before, including by suspected left-wing militants.
Again, I will keep an eye on updates on this.
Two people injured after an explosion near Augsburg train station
Two people were injured after an unknown object exploded near a train station in the southern German city of Augsburg.
A separate suspicious object was later found nearby, prompting police to temporarily suspend train services and close the station.
But, and that’s an important caveat, local media are reporting that the incident may be linked to organised crime rather than anything else, though authorities are yet to confirm a motive.
Morning opening: EU holds talks on response to Leipzig attack
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia’s attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month “had all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism,” as she prepares to lead talks on the bloc’s political reaction.
Kallas will host today’s informal talks between EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, focusing on “what more we can do” after Germany formally blamed Russia for last month’s security incident.
She said the incident should serve as a “wake-up call” for those countries that have been dragging their feet on further sanctions against Russia. “If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts, take it to a new level,” she said.
Separately, the EU and France have summoned top Russian officials to protest against the attack.
Related: Germany blames Russia for drone attack at Leipzig airport
Kallas said the discussions will also look at how the EU can further help Ukraine when “Russia is escalating and killing the civilians and causing as much harm as they can.”
Later today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will separately meet with Nato’s Mark Rutte , with the Leipzig incident and Ukraine also set to dominate their talks.
Elsewhere, Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten will host French president Emmanuel Macron today, who is then expected in Britain for talks with PM Andy Burnham.
It’s Wednesday, 2 September 2026 , it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live .
That’s a shame as there are no doubts many questions that could be asked here, including on the US’s apparent reluctance to name Russia as the country behind the Leipzig attack ( 12:00 ).
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Jakub Krupa. Published 2 Sept 2026, 11:00 am.
