Russia has issued a stern warning of a "harsh" response to Germany’s decision to shut down the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the "Russian House" in Berlin, cautioning that these recent German actions are deteriorating bilateral relations further.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the latest German measures as "hostile actions towards Russia" and vowed a robust counter-response, accusing Berlin of intentionally provoking Moscow.
The ministry stated that Germany’s closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the "Russian House" in Berlin is another step towards what it described as the "final destruction" of Russian-German relations.
Sergey Nechayev, Russia’s ambassador to Germany, affirmed that Moscow will retaliate, suggesting that the specifics of the countermeasures could be disclosed soon.
Nechayev told Russian journalists, "There will definitely be retaliatory measures. We do not leave such provocations unanswered," adding that he preferred not to speculate on the nature of the upcoming steps.
He further stated, "Announcements will be made in the coming days, possibly within hours."
The Russian ambassador labeled the actions taken by German authorities following the Leipzig drone incident as "provocative."
Moscow Denies Allegations
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Germany's allegations related to the Leipzig airport drone incident as baseless, asserting that the accusations lacked evidence.
Peskov criticized Berlin’s stance, drawing a comparison to Germany's response to the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, and accused the German authorities of failing to direct similar criticisms towards Ukraine on the issue.
Warning Against Escalation
In Germany, Sevim Dagdelen, an expert in foreign policy for the "Alliance Sarah Wagenknecht for Reason and Justice" party, cautioned against the risks of continued escalation with Moscow.
In statements to the "Novosti" agency, Dagdelen suggested that some parties appear to be seeking "direct military confrontation with nuclear-powered Russia," criticizing this approach as "irresponsible" and endangering the safety of citizens in Germany and across Europe.