Von der Leyen, Rutte say Russian ‘intimidation will not work’ to stop Ukraine aid

Key Points:

• The EU and NATO reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine despite recent attacks on European soil attributed to Russia, emphasizing that such actions will not deter their assistance.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attempted drone attack on Leipzig-Halle airport, calling it a Russian operation using military-grade materials on EU territory.
• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described Russia's recent activities, including drone incursions and sabotage attempts, as reckless and a clear threat to European security.
• The EU plans to deploy rapid response teams to assist countries affected by similar incidents and is prepared to impose additional sanctions on Russia, with further measures to be discussed by foreign ministers.
• The EU is also considering Ukraine's request for several billion euros to bolster its air defenses, including the acquisition of advanced U.S.-made PAC-3 Patriot missile interceptors, to address critical shortages amid ongoing Russian missile attacks.