Germany plans to blame Russia for Leipzig attack as tensions with Putin escalate

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to blame Russia for the failed drone attack in Leipzig, potentially leading to "extensive" sanctions against the country. This move comes amid high tensions with Moscow, following a series of hybrid warfare incidents on European soil. The EU is also preparing additional sanctions, with the announcement slated for early next week, coinciding with an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Ireland.

The decision to attribute the attack directly to Russia is sensitive, with officials stating that Berlin must prepare for retaliatory measures from Moscow. The incident has also triggered domestic political considerations, as elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are set to take place shortly thereafter, where far-right parties with pro-Russian stances are leading in the polls.

Evidence suggests Russia's involvement, including the drone's intended target of a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane and parallels to recent sabotage attacks against European air cargo. However, Russia has denied any involvement. The threshold for an official attribution of the attack to Russia remains high, and German officials are expected to weigh all evidence before making the official announcement.