European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Wednesday (September 2) to increase pressure on Russia, including with new sanctions, after an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany that she said showed Moscow's growing "recklessness."

Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes.

Germany blamed Moscow for the attack, characterizing it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have rallied around Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion.

Russia denies involvement. It says it will respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action," and summoned Germany's top diplomat in Moscow.

"Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia; we will increase it, and we will not stop - not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

"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."

The full scope of new sanctions was not immediately clear.

Rutte said more drones and missiles had crossed into NATO airspace on Europe's eastern flank, and there was an increase in malign activities including the Leipzig attack.

"If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken," he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EU to hit back at Russia after drone attack as Germany probes new sabotage cases

VIDEO SHOWS: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, GIVING STATEMENTS TO PRESS ON LEIPZIG DRONE INCIDENT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 2, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, ARRIVING FOR STATEMENTS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

“Had this attack succeeded, this would have resulted in enormous damage and possibly even 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. And if the intention was to make us think twice about supporting Ukraine, I can tell you it has only strengthened my resolve.”

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

“Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia. We will increase it, and we will not stop, not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine.”

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

“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. We must treat our everyday infrastructure as frontline targets and protect them accordingly. And we will support any member state Russia targets.”

7. VON DER LEYEN AND RUTTE SHAKING HANDS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

“Russia has grown increasingly reckless. As they continue their terrible war against Ukraine, we have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk. And we have also seen an increase in malign activities targeting our territory directly.”

9. WHITE FLASH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

“The dangers Russia poses are clear, and we are working around the clock to ensure that we are prepared 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, they are mistaken.”

11. VON DER LEYEN AND RUTTE SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING