Germany is preparing to take a much tougher stance against Russia. According to Politico, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to officially hold Moscow responsible for attempted drone attacks on Leipzig airport.

Berlin subsequently plans to announce "extensive" measures against Russia, including new sanctions and, apparently, additional arms deliveries to Ukraine. The announcement is expected early next week, but according to two Politico sources, Merz may make it public even sooner.

The chancellor reportedly no longer wants to respond merely by expelling Russian diplomats or closing the Russian House in Berlin, Politico reports. "Tougher measures" are on the table, such as more intensive sanctions or "even more extensive arms deliveries to Ukraine."

Welt describes the impending shift as "Zeitenwende 2.0" ("Turning Point 2.0"), a reference to the fundamental shift in German security policy that former Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to the newspaper, Berlin is now preparing a combination of direct German measures and new EU sanctions. A sharp Russian retaliation is expected at the same time.

Merz had already signaled a tough response to the incidents in Leipzig on Tuesday, without naming the culprit at the time. "The federal government is making the perpetrators of hybrid attacks pay a price. They will pay for this", he stated, according to Politico.

According to Bild, he also noted that the government is working "intensively" to clarify the incident and "will comment on it soon". Berlin, however, has not yet officially confirmed Russian responsibility.

(echo24, im)