“If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said. “Our unity is unshaken — our support to Ukraine is clear.”
He slammed Russia’s moves as “reckless,” describing a series of recent actions including “drones and missiles” intruding into NATO airspace, “malign activities” such as fires allegedly set at factories producing defense equipment for Ukraine and Russia’s “hybrid attack” against the east German Leipzig-Halle airport.
“The dangers Russia poses are clear,” Rutte said.
On Tuesday, Berlin attributed an attempted Aug. 4 attack in Leipzig to Russia. Three drones carrying explosive material were spotted at or near the airport, including one that was found near a Ukrainian Antonov plane used to ship munitions.
The remarks underscore growing tensions between Moscow and Ukraine’s Western allies as they increasingly blame Russia for sabotage and other hybrid attacks on their territory while continuing to send military aid to Kyiv.
Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would “adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kyiv’s war machine.”
