Berlin, Germany – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has played down Western concerns that Russia is preparing for further conflicts in Europe and suggested the European Union should have a concrete peace plan in place for Ukraine amid efforts by the United States to end the war.
Rama, speaking to Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Berlin Global Dialogue conference late last month, said it would be “completely stupid” of any country to attack EU or NATO members.
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“Russia will not attack Albania and Russia will not attack any other European country,” he said. “NATO is ready for any kind of aggression. NATO has nobody and nothing to fear because it’s the strongest army in the world so far.”
Twenty-three out of 27 EU member states are NATO members. Albania is part of NATO and has been an EU candidate country since 2014.
“The EU is being provoked a lot by Russia,” said Rama. “Countries on the border with Russia are being provoked on a daily basis … the EU is defending itself and thinking of defending itself better.”
Since early September, several European countries, including Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Romania, have blamed Russia for a series of suspected drone incursions. Tensions soared further on September 19, when NATO said it intercepted three Russian MiG-31 jets suspected of entering Estonian airspace, a claim denied by Moscow.
Last month, German foreign intelligence chief Martin Jager warned lawmakers that to grow its “sphere of influence further westward into Europe”, Russia would “shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary”.
Moscow has dismissed accusations that it has deliberately sent drones into European airspace, blaming those countries for stoking hysteria.
EU’s lack of a peace plan ‘looks very strange’
Rama’s government has been vocal in its criticism of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and supports EU sanctions on Moscow.
But he told Al Jazeera, “The fact that the EU does not have a peace plan looks very strange to me.”
As US President Donald Trump attempts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Rama said the EU should “think about having its own diplomacy in action to promote its own vision of peace”.
He also suggested EU officials should “find a way to talk to the Russians” to end the war.
Late on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had not seen a European plan to end the war, according to Interfax news agency.
Rama claimed that Albania, which has not reported any Russian drone sightings, feels little pressure despite the apparent incursions, as Eastern European countries bordering Russia are on high security alert.
“I’m Albanian,” Rama said. “We have no fears … There is no room for Russian hostilities in Albania because there is no sympathy for Russia.”
Before the suspected airspace violations, Moscow had long been accused of engaging in “hybrid warfare”, using unconventional methods such as cyberattacks or disinformation campaigns to drive a wedge between EU countries. The drone incursions, the bloc says, are part of that tactic.
There are fears that Russia’s war could spill over into the Western Balkans, comprising – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, self-declared republic of Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – home to deep-rooted tensions.
On October 22, when Rama’s British counterpart Keir Starmer hosted him and the five other Western Balkans leaders, the premier of the United Kingdom called the region “Europe’s crucible – the place where the security of our continent is put to the test”.
The six nations are at varying levels of negotiations with the EU regarding accession, attempting to reform sectors from their judiciaries to social welfare departments in order to join the bloc.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently praised the progress made by Montenegro and Albania.
In Tirana on October 25, in a news conference alongside Rama, she said Albania is on “the right track towards the European Union”, adding, “there has been a stunning and outstanding record speed acceleration since 2022”.
Rama agreed, telling Al Jazeera that the EU’s sense of openness in welcoming the Balkan nations has improved since the Ukraine war began.
Want to see the most beautiful scenes in one trip? A must-do country European road trip will take you to six countries, where you will see the sea, mountains, castles and breath-taking views
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This road trip will take you to six countries in one day(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Hopping on a plane and getting to your holiday destination in hours is a luxury, but one thing that everyone should do at least once in their lives is a road trip.
TikTok account Living Our Memories shared the perfect itinerary, where the key stops included France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. The total route is 23 hours and 49 minutes, non-stop.
Gathering over a million views, the couple, who shared their travels with their 5K followers, captioned the video: “An epic road trip across 6 countries you must have to do at least once in your life.”
Champagne, France
First stop, the French region of Champagne, known for its scenic vineyards. Located in the northeast of France, their sparkling white wine is what makes them so well-known. Visitors can see the cities of Reims and Épernay, as well as the villages like Hautvillers and Méry-sur-Ay.
Wine lovers can make a pit stop and tour the famous Champagne houses such as Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Taittinger. Those who prefer adrenaline can do some outdoor activities such as biking through the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims.
Stausee Steg, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein’s turquoise waters in the middle of the most gorgeous greenery scenes, facing the mountains. It’s the perfect place for a swim in the lake or a picnic with your loved ones.
If you’re feeling sporty or want to capture the perfect shot, you can hike the mountains and get the perfect scene. According to AllTrails, it’s best to bring water shoes for those who plan to swim or walk near the rocky edges.
Lake Eibsee, Germany
Nature lovers will love Lake Eibsee in Germany. The waters are crystal clear with views of the Zugspitze mountains.
Some of the activities for visitors are hiking the 7.5 km (4.6 miles) walk around the lake, as it provides stunning views. You can also rent a boat or a canoe to explore the lake and the surrounding islands. If you’re brave enough, you can also swim in the waters – but it’s super cold.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Located in Bavaria, Germany, in the foothills of the Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle is just the exact layout as the ones in the Disney movies. In fact, it’s best known for the inspiration behind Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The 19th-century historic castle overlooks the narrow Pollat gorge, and it’s close to the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes. Therefore, it makes it an ideal place to visit on the way to the upcoming location of the road trip.
Tickets cost 20 euros (£17.36), but children under the age of 18 can access the castle completely free of charge.
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Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s tourism has increased over the years, making it the perfect place for a city break or a day trip. The city has a unique blend of history and culture, with a lot to offer to visitors and locals alike.
Its historical sites include UNESCO World Heritage sites and famous landmarks such as the Grand Ducal Palace and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The best thing about Luxembourg is that you can enjoy it all year round, and the public transportation is free.
Dinant, Belgium
To conclude the road trip, what better way to do it than in Belgium? A more tranquil side of the country, with beautiful scenery and history. Its most popular tourist attraction is the Maison Leffe. The town’s location is also ideal along the River Meuse, as it overlooks the water and the pastel-coloured houses.
Visitors can walk through the cobbled streets, take a boat tour and even participate in water activities such as kayaking on the nearby Lesse River.
Bruges, Belgium
Perfect for a city break, a small yet fulfilling town with a lot to offer. If you’re a fan of medieval settings, this is the place for you. However, its popularity comes with big crowds and higher costs.
Bruges is also famous for its Belgian waffles, fries, chocolate and beer – so, come with an empty stomach to indulge the best sweet and savoury flavours.
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World Thrift Day is a public holiday inGermanythat is held on the last business day beforeHalloween. For example, in 2017, it was observed onOctober 30th, but in 2021, it was observed onOctober 29th.
This holiday is the German version of WorldSavingsDay—a holiday that was first celebrated in 1925 to encourage people to save money towards their retirement. Now, it’s a holiday that encourages people to give money the consideration it deserves, so they can not only be better savers but also keep more of what they earn.
OnOctober 31st, 1924, the firstWorld Savings Daywas established during the inaugural International Savings Bank Congress held in Milan,Italy. On the last day of the congress, Italian Professor Filippo Ravizza declared that this day should be celebrated as International Saving Day.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Germany is offering for Canada to join its Type 212CD submarine program, alongside Norway, as part of a broader defense cooperation that would more closely align Berlin and Ottawa. Canada badly needs a replacement for its aging and troublesome Victoria class diesel-electric submarines, and, in turn, Germany is looking to procure potentially significant numbers of special-mission aircraft from Canada’s Bombardier, among other defense systems.
The German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore Sandvik, were in Ottawa this week, where they presented the Type 212CD to the Minister of National Defense of Canada, David McGuinty, for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
A rendering of the forthcoming Type 212CD submarine. TKMS TKMS
Canada’s requirement is for up to 12 new submarines to replace the four Victoria class boats. The new submarines should offer significant new capabilities, including operating for extended periods under ice, an important factor to bear in mind given the growing military importance of the Arctic region.
HMCS Victoria, the first of the four Victoria class submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. U.S. Navy
The German-Norwegian offer is for the Type 212CD (Common Design), which is a further improved version of the Type 212A, which you can read about in more detail here. The Type 212CD features an improved air-independent propulsion (AIP) system including new-generation batteries (most likely of the Lithium-Ion type), improved diesel generators, increased speed and range, improved self-defense capabilities, and improved signatures and target echo strength thanks to a specially designed hull shape.
A German Navy Type 212A submarine, from which the new Type 212CD is derived. TKMS ThyssenKrupp
Germany has ordered six Type 212CD hulls, with the first of these set to enter service in 2031 and ultimately plans to field as many as nine. Meanwhile, Norway has ordered four, with at least another two planned. Oslo expects to commission the first of these boats in 2029.
The manufacturer of the Type 212CD, TKMS, says it will be able to build around three to four boats per year from 2027.
The Canadian government wants to see the delivery of the first new submarine no later than 2035.
The Victoria class submarines currently in use with the Royal Canadian Navy were purchased secondhand from the United Kingdom in 1998, having previously served with the Royal Navy as the Upholder class, and have been anything but trouble-free since their transfer. The first three Victoria class submarines entered service with the Royal Canadian Navy between 2000 and 2003. The fourth submarine caught fire while in transit to Canada in 2004, which meant it wasn’t accepted into Royal Canadian Navy service until 2015.
HMCS Corner Brook, one of the four Victoria class boats, pulls into Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, for a 2009 port visit. U.S. Navy
In an effort to boost the Type 212CD’s chances in Canada, Germany is offering Ottawa the opportunity to manufacture components, or even undertake construction of complete submarines, in local shipyards.
While in Canada, Pistorius outlined the possibility of a long-term submarine cooperation between the three countries, which could extend for 40 to 50 years. This would see them jointly build and maintain the submarines, as well as providing logistics and working on projects to develop the boats further. Pistorius also raised the possibility of crew exchanges and even joint operations in the Indo-Pacific region. Having Canada join the initiative would also bring down the unit cost of each submarine as the overall production increases significantly.
Boris Pistorius (right), the German Federal Minister of Defense, and Tore Sandvik, Minister of Defense of Norway, arrive for a press conference on the submarine project in Ottawa yesterday. Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance
In turn, the German minister of defense raised the possibility of Berlin buying Canadian defense systems, as part of planned offsets on a submarine deal.
Items mentioned include a new combat management system (CMS) for the German Navy. This would likely be the CMS 330 from Lockheed Martin Canada, which was originally developed for the Royal Canadian Navy.
More intriguingly, Pistorius said that the German Armed Forces are likely to buy at least 18 Bombardier Global bizjets in the coming years. These would be for special missions tasks and likely also VIP transport, although the large number of jets remains somewhat puzzling. The German minister of defense also suggested that more bizjets could be acquired from Bombardier if Germany chooses to buy the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from Saab. This is installed on a Global 6000/6500 platform. Saab has also actively pitched the GlobalEye to Canada.
A pair of Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft. Saab Saab
Other military areas in which the German government might ‘buy Canadian’ include space systems, as part of a growing investment on behalf of the German Ministry of Defense.
On a non-military level, Pistorius also said that Germany is seeking to enhance its cooperation with Canada on raw materials, hydro energy, and liquefied natural gas. This is all the more important now that Canada-U.S. relations are at an unprecedented low.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States and Canada have “natural conflict” on trade. This is all part of the fallout from events this summer, when Trump increased tariffs on many Canadian goods to 35 percent, with Canada then retaliating with its own tariffs on U.S. exports.
President Trump and I know that there are areas where our nations can compete — and areas where we will be stronger together.
Meanwhile, as part of the submarine proposal, Norway’s Sandvik also pitched offsets to Canada, including buying its AI solutions. The Norwegian minister of defense also offered to help Canada establish a submarine maintenance center, the same as that now under construction in Bergen, Norway.
In August of this year, the Canadian submarine competition was whittled down to the Type 212CD and the South Korean KSS-III, from the Hanwha Group. Seoul is also offering offsets to Canada, as well as promising fast delivery of the submarines.
The KSS-III submarine ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho during trials. Defense Acquisition Program Administration
“The Koreans build excellent submarines, but we build better ones,” Pistorius said, noting that the Type 212CD project is on schedule and within budget.
South Korea is an increasingly major player on the global arms market, and its defense industry is winning ever more high-profile orders, notably to NATO nations.
On the other hand, with Germany and Norway comes the opportunity for cooperation on a military level as well as on an industrial level.
Already, it’s expected that Germany and Norway will work closely together as they introduced their Type 212CD submarines. This is especially relevant now that Germany is looking to expand its area of naval operations from its traditional stronghold in the Baltic Sea and out into the Atlantic.
This will include protecting the North Atlantic against potential Russian aggression and tracking Russian submarine activity there, which has been a growing area of concern for some time now. This marks a significant turnaround since the early post-Cold War years, when Russian submarine activity dipped and the overall strategic importance of the North Atlantic region seemed to have decreased.
The Russian Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan at its base in the Northern Fleet in May 2021. Ministry of Defense of Russia
Reflecting the changing reality, in 2024, Canada signed a trilateral letter of intent with Germany and Norway to establish a strategic partnership in support of NATO’s deterrence and defense in the North Atlantic region, specifically.
However, when the letter of intent was announced, Ottawa underscored the fact that it does not include any discussion of submarines. “The emphasis of this agreement is on defense industry, supply chains, training, and operations. It complements other initiatives that Canada is exploring with Germany and European allies,” the Canadian government said.
Concept art of the submerged SSN-AUKUS. U.K. Ministry of Defense
Meanwhile, other NATO nations are now more closely aligning their anti-submarine warfare activities in the North Atlantic region. For example, the United Kingdom and Norway have discussed plans to cooperate on P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft operations, and, more recently, the United Kingdom and Germany have signed a related agreement related to their P-8s. Canada has also selected the P-8, providing yet another opportunity for close maritime cooperation with Germany and Norway.
A rendering of a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft in Canadian service. Boeing
A submarine partnership between Canada, Germany, and Norway would further enhance NATO’s ability to effectively patrol the North Atlantic, including the strategically vital Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom Gap, better known as the GIUK Gap. This is a critical bottleneck that is closely monitored. If Russian submarines can sneak through undetected, they have a much higher chance of disappearing into the Atlantic without being traced. During a full-blown conflict, this would likely include wreaking havoc on NATO shipping and naval flotillas and executing pinpoint attacks on key land targets.
A GIUK Gap map from the Cold War, but still very much relevant today. CIA.gov
As well as hostile submarines, NATO also faces a growing threat from other kinds of underwater activities, specifically attacks on critical undersea infrastructure. The vulnerability of undersea cables and offshore wind farms, for example, to potential Russian attack is very much on NATO’s mind, after a series of incidents, especially in the Baltic.
At the same time, NATO is increasingly looking toward the Arctic as an area of future competition with both Russia and China. This is especially relevant for Canada and Norway and the option to operate common submarines, and share something of the logistics burden, as well as optimize operations in this challenging environment, which could do much to help strengthen NATO’s presence in the High North. At the very least, operating the same submarines would provide more opportunities to align training and exercises. At the same time, Germany is now looking to expand its naval presence in the waters around the Arctic Circle, including expanding its footprint in Iceland.
Whether Canada chooses the Type 212CD or the rival KSS-III, the competition is about more than just providing an economic boost to the winning company. Canada’s future submarine fleet also looks set to play an important role in detecting a resurgent Russian submarine force, protecting undersea infrastructure, and patrolling an increasingly strategic Arctic region, among others.
Economists credit US President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign with reducing trade between Germany and the US, its top trading partner last year.
Published On 22 Oct 202522 Oct 2025
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China overtook the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner during the first eight months of 2025, preliminary data from the German statistics office has shown.
The data indicated that German imports and exports with China totalled $190.7bn (163.4 billion euros) from January to August, while trade with the US amounted to $189bn (162.8 billion euros), according to Reuters calculations.
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The US was Germany’s top trading partner in 2024, ending an eight-year streak for China. Germany had sought to reduce its reliance on China, citing political differences and accusing Beijing of unfair practices.
But trade dynamics shifted again this year, with US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his renewed tariff campaign.
The tariffs have pushed down German exports to the US, which fell 7.4 percent in the first eight months of the year compared with 2024.
In August, exports to the US also fell 23.5 percent year-on-year, showing that the trend is accelerating.
“There is no question that US tariff and trade policy is an important reason for the decline in sales,” said Dirk Jandura, president of the BGA foreign trade association.
Jandura added that US demand for classic German export goods, such as cars, machinery and chemicals, had fallen.
With the ongoing tariff threat and the stronger euro, German exports to the US are unlikely to rebound any time soon, said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at the financial institution ING.
Exports to China fell even more sharply than those to the US, dropping 13.5 percent year-on-year to $63.5bn (54.7 billion euros) in the first eight months of 2025.
By contrast, imports from China rose 8.3 percent to $126.4bn (108.8 billion euros).
“The renewed import boom from China is worrying – particularly as data shows that these imports come at dumping prices,” said Brzeski.
He warned that the trend not only increases German dependence on China, but could add to stress in key industries where China has become a major rival.
“In the absence of economic dynamism at home, some in Germany may now be troubled by any shifts on world markets,” said Salomon Fiedler, an economist at the bank Berenberg.
Moscow is accused of running sabotage and espionage operations across Europe, targeting nations supporting Ukraine.
Published On 21 Oct 202521 Oct 2025
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Authorities in Poland have arrested eight individuals across the country on suspicion of espionage and sabotage.
In a brief statement on social media, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that the case is developing and that “further operational activities are ongoing” without providing further details.
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The detentions come amid accusations that Russia is operating a network of spies and saboteurs across Europe.
Referring to the prime minister’s post, the coordinator of Poland’s special services, Tomasz Siemoniak, said that the detained people are suspected of engaging in espionage and planning attacks.
They were arrested due to “conducting reconnaissance of military facilities and critical infrastructure, preparing resources for sabotage, and directly carrying out attacks”, he said.
While Warsaw has not directly linked the arrests, officials have said previously that Poland has been targeted with such attacks in a “hybrid war” waged by Russia to destabilise nations supporting Ukraine.
Several other European countries have also pointed the finger at Moscow as they have suffered similar attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Polish authorities have detained dozens of people over suspected sabotage and espionage over the past three years or so.
Moscow denies the accusations, insisting that they are the result of “Russophobia”.
In May last year, Polish authorities arrested three men for an arson attack. In September, Lithuanian prosecutors broke up a network that they said planned arson and explosive attacks in several European Union states.
The same month, Latvia’s security service announced the detention of a man suspected of passing military intelligence to Russia, and British police arrested three people suspected of running sabotage and espionage operations for Russia.
The United Kingdom has also repeatedly accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage and spy operations on its soil and beyond. The Kremlin has accused London of blaming Moscow for “anything bad that happens”.
Drones increasing concern
This autumn, drone incursions have added to the European security concerns, with Belgium, Denmark and Germany among several countries reporting sightings.
The incursions provoked airport closures in both Germany and Denmark.
“We are at the beginning of a hybrid war against Europe,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. “I think we are going to see more of it … We see the pattern, and it does not look good,” she added.
Tusk pledged to urgently upgrade Poland’s air defences after NATO forces shot down several drones over his country last month.
The European Union, recognising the inefficiency of using multimillion-euro weapons to battle cheap drones, has reacted to the incursions with proposals to develop a “drone wall” on its eastern borders.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing challenges in implementing key policies on pensions and military service, raising concerns about political instability in Germany. Merz’s conservative party and the center-left Social Democrats formed a coalition five months ago to ensure stability after a previous coalition’s collapse. However, this new coalition has a slim parliamentary majority and has experienced internal tensions since its formation, particularly after Merz became the first chancellor to fail re-election in the first voting round.
While coalition leaders maintain a good working relationship, they struggle to manage their lawmakers. Many conservatives are dissatisfied with the compromises made, which conflict with their campaign promises. Merz, lacking prior government experience, has adopted a hands-off approach to internal conflicts. Political experts caution that the coalition may not implement significant changes if it continues along its current path, driven by distrust among parties, differing ideologies, and the challenges Germany faces.
The coalition must act quickly as Germany’s economy is facing its third year of decline and security issues with Russia complicate matters, especially given uncertainties with the United States as a security partner. Proponents argue that the bill for voluntary military service, which may lead to reintroducing the draft, is crucial for strengthening Germany’s armed forces. However, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s timeline for implementation by 2026 now appears uncertain.
Political turmoil in Germany follows a string of French government collapses, raising concerns about political paralysis and increased support for far-right parties. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is gaining popularity as support for the conservatives and Social Democrats wanes. Conservative youth lawmakers threatened to withhold support for a pension bill that freezes pensions until 2031, arguing it fails to address financing issues amidst an aging population.
Meanwhile, disagreements about military service proposals between the coalition parties created additional tensions. A proposed compromise was rejected by Pistorius, which prompted some cancellations in joint events. Analysts believe that while the coalition is likely to reach new agreements, they may be fraught with complications and eroded trust. Merz is criticized for not intervening in coalition disputes and for focusing on foreign policies, which has contributed to a significant drop in his approval ratings, making him one of the least popular chancellors recently.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said handing over the Ukrainian diver is not in the country’s best interests.
Published On 17 Oct 202517 Oct 2025
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A Polish court has blocked the extradition of a Ukrainian diver wanted by Germany in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions, a handover that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier this month was not in his country’s best interests.
The Warsaw District Court rejected the extradition of the man, only identified as Volodymyr Z, on Friday and ordered his immediate release.
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The government had previously said that the decision about whether Volodymyr Z should be transferred to Germany was one for the courts alone.
Tusk has said the problem was not that the undersea pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany, were blown up in September 2022, but that they were built at all.
The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was inaugurated in 2011 and carried Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea until Russia cut off supplies in August 2022.
They also damaged the parallel Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Gas leak at Nord Stream 2 as seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor at Bornholm, Denmark on September 27, 2022 [File: Danish Defence Command/Forsvaret Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters]
The explosions largely severed Russian gas supplies to Europe, marking a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict and squeezing energy supplies.
Germany’s top prosecutors’ office says Volodymyr Z was one of a group suspected of renting a sailing yacht and planting explosives on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm.
He faces allegations of conspiring to commit an explosives attack and of “anti-constitutional sabotage”.
His Polish lawyer rejects the accusations and says Volodymyr Z has done nothing wrong. He has also questioned whether a case concerning the destruction of Russian property by a Ukrainian at a time when the countries are at war is a criminal matter.
Volodymyr Z’s wife has told Polish media her husband is innocent and that they were together in Poland at the time the pipelines were blown up.
He is one of two Ukrainians whose extradition German judicial authorities have been trying to secure in the case.
A man suspected of being one of the attack’s coordinators was arrested in Italy in August. This week, Italy’s top court annulled a lower court’s decision to order his extradition and called for another panel of judges to reassess the case, his lawyer said.
Ukraine says it will need $120bn in defence funding in 2026 to stave off Russia’s more than three-year war.
Published On 15 Oct 202515 Oct 2025
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Germany has pledged more than $2bn in military aid for Ukraine, as the government in Kyiv signalled that it would need $120bn in 2026 to stave off Russia’s nearly four-year all-out war.
Speaking on Wednesday at a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius said that Western allies must maintain their resolve and provide more weapons to Ukraine.
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“You can count on Germany. We will continue and expand our support for Ukraine. With new contracts, Germany will provide additional support amounting to over 2 billion euros [$2.3bn],” Pistorius told the meeting in Brussels, which was also attended by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal.
“The package addresses a number of urgent requirements of Ukraine. It provides air defence systems, Patriot interceptors, radar systems and precision guided artillery, rockets and ammunition,” Pistorius said, adding that Germany will also deliver two additional IRIS-T air defence systems to Ukraine, including a large number of guided missiles and shoulder-fired air defence missiles.
In recent months, the transatlantic alliance started to coordinate regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine to help fend off Russia’s war.
Spare weapons stocks in European arsenals have all but dried up, and only the United States has a sufficient store of ready weapons that Ukraine most needs.
Under the financial arrangement – known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) – European allies and Canada are buying US weapons to help Kyiv keep Russian forces at bay. About $2bn worth had previously been allocated since August.
Germany’s pledge came as Ukraine’s Western backers gathered to drum up more military support for their beleaguered partner.
Shmyhal put his country’s defence needs next year at $120bn. “Ukraine will cover half, $60bn, from our national resources. We are asking partners to join us in covering the other half,” he said.
Air defence systems are most in need. Shmyhal said that last month alone, Russia “launched over 5,600 strike drones and more than 180 missiles targeting our civilian infrastructure and people”.
The new pledges of support came a day after new data showed that foreign military aid to Ukraine had declined sharply recently. Despite the PURL programme, support plunged by 43 percent in July and August compared to the first half of the year, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks such deliveries and funding.
Hegseth said that “all countries need to translate goals into guns, commitments into capabilities and pledges into power. That’s all that matters. Hard power. It’s the only thing belligerents actually respect.”
The administration of US President Donald Trump hasn’t donated military equipment to Ukraine. It has been weighing whether to send Tomahawk long-range missiles if Russia doesn’t wind down its war soon, but it remains unclear who will pay for those weapons, should they be approved.
Manager Michael O’Neill felt had Northern Ireland beaten Germany at Windsor Park in World Cup qualifying on Monday night that they would have been in a “strong position to achieve something amazing”.
When the dust settles on a window during which his young side also beat Slovakia 2-0 on Friday, O’Neill will surely feel encouraged that such a possibility remains on the table as he seeks to take the side to the game’s biggest stage for the first time in four decades.
For the second time in five weeks, Northern Ireland’s players left the field against the four-time World Cup winners believing they could and perhaps should have taken something from the game.
In Cologne last month, it took until after the 70th minute before the visitors tired and quick-fire goals from Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz secured an unconvincing 3-1 win.
Back in Belfast on Monday night, it was Northern Ireland who finished the stronger of the sides, but they could not find an equaliser during a final 25 minutes played largely in Germany’s third of the pitch.
The result ends any realistic chance of O’Neill’s side topping Group A, but the performance, allied with wins in their other two matches to date, means they can have real belief that they can both make and then succeed in the play-offs.
A draw in next month’s seemingly crunch fixture in Slovakia followed by a win over Luxembourg, provided as O’Neill put it “Germany take care of business at home when they play Slovakia” in the final matchday, would be enough for second place.
Even should that not come to pass, there remains a likely backdoor into the play-offs as an otherwise unqualified group winner from last year’s Nations League, although that would potentially mean a considerably stronger opponent in an away semi-final.
“We’ve gained some momentum and picked up some good results,” said defender Paddy McNair, one of two players in O’Neill’s current squad who played for Northern Ireland in their last major tournament at Euro 2016.
“If I was the opposition, I would not like to face us in the play-offs.
“It’s pretty hard to finish first now, but I think we have to get to Slovakia and get three points and you just never know what could happen going into the last game.”
Despite the loss, and his frustration, O’Neill still had time for a joke with a member of the German media.
“Having looked at the stats, ironically Germany played more long balls than us in the game,” he said.
For his part, Julian Nagelsmann, whose comments after the reverse fixture in Cologne prompted O’Neill’s quip, was relieved to get through a “tough” game.
“The second half was all about defending,” Nagelsmann told BBC Sport.
“As I said before the game it was a really tough opponent, a lot of long balls and they fight and we had to fight as well.
“It was a good step in the right direction to beat a team like Northern Ireland and to fight for second balls and be as tough as the opponent.”
Top spot in Group A is now a long shot given Germany have put their grasp on automatic qualification.
But second place and a guaranteed play-off is still on the cards ahead of November’s two qualifiers in Slovakia and home to bottom side Luxembourg.
It may not be much consolation now, but a play-off as one of four Nations League group winners seems to be a more secure fall back given other results across Europe, if Northern Ireland were to miss out on the top two.
So, after battling but falling short against one of Europe’s giants, this young Northern Ireland side may be down, but they are definitely not out.
The election in Frankfurt an der Oder, a city on the border with Poland, is between Independent candidate Axel Strasser and AfD contender Wilko Moller.
Voters in the eastern city of Frankfurt an der Oder have cast their ballots in a run-off election that could give the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the largest opposition party in parliament, its first mayoral victory in a German city.
Independent candidate Axel Strasser and AfD contender Wilko Moller faced off on Sunday after leading the first-round vote on September 21, with Strasser receiving 32.4 percent of the vote and Moller 30.2 percent.
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Candidates from the centre-right Christian Democratic Union and the centre-left Social Democratic Party were eliminated in the first round.
The election comes three days after the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, stripped two AfD lawmakers of their parliamentary immunity, with one accused of defamation and the other of making a Nazi salute, which is illegal in Germany.
Political scientist Jan Philipp Thomeczek, of the University of Potsdam, told the dpa news agency that a victory for Moller would send “a very strong signal” that the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic AfD can succeed in urban areas.
Frankfurt an der Oder is a city in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, located directly on the border with Poland. It is distinct from Frankfurt am Main, the much larger financial hub in western Germany.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities says there is currently no AfD-affiliated mayor of a city of significant size anywhere in the country.
Tim Lochner became mayor of the town of Pirna, near the Czech border, after being nominated for election in 2023 by the AfD, but he is technically an independent.
An AfD politician, Robert Sesselmann, is the district administrator in the Sonneberg district in Thuringia. There are also AfD mayors in small towns in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The Brandenburg domestic intelligence service in May classified the AfD’s state branch as “confirmed far-right extremist”, a label the party rejects as a politically driven attempt to marginalise it.
A 1,100-page report compiled by the agency – that will not be made public – concluded that the AfD is a racist and anti-Muslim organisation.
The designation makes the party subject to surveillance and has revived discussion over a potential ban for the AfD, which has launched a legal challenge against the intelligence service.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticised the classification when it was announced, branding it as “tyranny in disguise”, and urged German authorities to reverse the move.
In response, Germany hit back at US President Donald Trump’s administration, suggesting officials in Washington should study history.
“We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped,” said Germany’s Federal Foreign Office in a statement.
The Kremlin also criticised the action against the AfD, which regularly repeats Russian narratives regarding the war in Ukraine, and what it called a broader trend of “restrictive measures” against political movements in Europe.
Brandenburg leaders say the AfD has shown contempt for government institutions, while the state’s domestic intelligence chief, Wilfried Peters, added that the party advocates for the “discrimination and exclusion” of people who do not “belong to the German mainstream”.
Polling stations closed at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT), and results were expected by late Sunday.
Now, the side face the prospect of taking on the group favourites without their best player.
Bradley, who has also been booked three times in five Premier League appearances this term, was shown his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign in the 76th minute for a tackle on Lukas Haraslin.
O’Neill described the decision as “extremely disappointing” and felt his player had tried to pull out of the challenge.
“There were worse tackles in the game and one just before that was particularly poor on Isaac Price that the referee let go,” he said. “To produce a yellow card for that was disappointing.”
Speaking on BBC Sport NI, former Northern Ireland and Leeds United defender Stuart Dallas said Bradley had given “the referee a decision to make” but agreed with his old international boss that the decision ultimately was harsh.
If not for the resulting suspension, it would have been a mere footnote in an otherwise excellent performance.
Bradley was one of four players in the starting XI who went into the game knowing a booking would rule them out of Monday’s game, but Hume said they do not wish to curb his aggressive edge.
“We spoke before the game about the boys who were on yellows trying not to get one, but it’s one of those things,” he explained.
“You can’t go into a game trying not to get booked. You’ve got to play to your strengths.
“He’s full throttle. He’s 100% all the time.”
Since making his full Premier League debut in January 2024, Bradley has started 15 of his country’s 17 games, missing only the friendlies against Sweden and Switzerland in March.
Quite how to compensate for his loss gives O’Neill yet another thing to consider as he plots how to pull off what would be the biggest result of his second spell in charge.
While there is no like-for-like replacement in the squad, Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer figures to fill the void at right wing-back against the four-time World Cup winners.
“You’ve seen Brodie play left wing-back, right wing-back, he’s even played in a back three. We know how strong and athletic he is,” added Hume.
“Obviously Conor is going to be a big miss, but we’re a big group, we’re a strong team and we’re all together.
“It’s something we have to deal with and we’ll be ready.”
Joint statement comes more than a month after the E3 countries triggered a mechanism reinstating UN sanctions against Iran.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany have said they wish to restart stalled nuclear talks with Iran and the United States, more than a month after the three European countries triggered a mechanism reinstating the United Nations sanctions on Iran for the first time in a decade.
The E3 countries’ joint statement on Friday came nearly two weeks after UN sanctions were reimposed on Iran, under a “snapback” process that the three nations had initiated on August 28 and that became effective one month later.
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In response, Iran recalled its envoys to the three European countries for consultations.
Iran has said that, following those revived sanctions, it would not immediately resume nuclear talks.
The sanctions set up a global ban on cooperation with Iran on nuclear, military, banking and shipping industries.
The sanctions are aimed at imposing new economic pain to pressure Iran, but it remains to be seen if all countries will enforce them. On September 27, the day before the sanctions came into effect, Iran’s national currency, the rial, fell to new all-time lows.
In their joint statement, the UK, France and Germany said: “We are determined to reinitiate negotiations with Iran and the United States towards a comprehensive, durable and verifiable agreement that ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.”
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Monday that “we have no plans for negotiations at this stage”.
He added that Iran was examining the “consequences and implications” of the restart of sanctions.
“Of course, diplomacy – in the sense of maintaining contacts and consultations – will continue,” Baghaei said. “Whenever we feel that diplomacy can be effective, we will certainly make decisions based on the country’s interests and priorities.”
Nuclear fears
Western countries, spearheaded by the US and joined by Israel, accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons – a charge Tehran has long denied.
During a 12-day June conflict, the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran, joining an Israeli air campaign that targeted Iran’s top generals and nuclear scientists, as well as civilians in residential areas. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles and drones against Israel and sites linked to the US. According to Amnesty International, Israeli attacks on Iran killed at least 1,100 people.
The E3 said in Friday’s statement that “it was right that the snapback mechanism had been triggered”.
“Iran’s nuclear programme poses a serious threat to global peace and security,” the bloc of nations added.
In 2015, the US, along with the E3, Russia and China, concluded an agreement with Iran providing for the regulation of Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
US President Donald Trump decided during his first term in 2018 to withdraw the US from the deal and to reinstate US sanctions.
In retaliation, Iran pulled back from some of its commitments, particularly on uranium enrichment.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only country without a nuclear weapons programme to enrich uranium to 60 percent. That is close to the threshold of 90 percent required for a bomb, and well above the far lower level needed for civilian nuclear use.
Airfares to the magnificent Christmas market cathedral city of Colonge have dropped significantly over the past 12 months, according to Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends report
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(Image: Getty)
Flights to the location of one of the world’s biggest and best-known Christmas markets have tumbled in price.
According to Skyscanner, airfares to the magnificent cathedral city of Cologne have dropped significantly over the past 12 months. The market opens to the public on November 17 and runs until December 23. Right now, there are one-way tickets available for when the market is open, from a number of different UK airports, from £14.
Chelsea Dickenson, a British bargain hunter with a knack for frugal festivities, champions Cologne’s Christmas markets as the best of them all. Not only does it boast an array of activities, but it also promises more bang for your buck compared to its British counterparts.
The savvy saver, who dishes out budget travel advice on social media, recently took to TikTok to share her insights: “If you haven’t booked a European Christmas market yet this year here’s why I think you should opt for Cologne. So last year I visited seven European Christmas markets and Cologne my absolute favourite.”
Cologne Tourism confirms the city’s festive allure, announcing: “This year the Christmas markets in Cologne opened their gates around November 18, and are welcoming visitors with delicacies such as mulled wine and waffles. You can explore the many markets in the course of a mulled-wine tour through the cathedral city.”
Milo Boyd
Chelsea, the savvy traveller behind Cheap Holiday Expert, has shared her enchanting experience at Cologne’s Christmas markets on her website. She gushed: “I loved Heinzels Wintermärchen Christmas Market in Cologne’s old town, spread over the Alter Markt and Heumarkt squares.
“This is a traditional market, centred around the folk legend of household spirits, the Heinzelmännchen. As well as stalls selling incredible hand-made gifts, there are food stands, live music, artist performances and an ice rink too.”
Cologne topped a Skyscanner list of the best-value holiday destinations, combining experience and affordability among those seeing the biggest year-on-year drops in flight prices.
Over the past year flights from the UK to Cologe have dropped 44%. There are a number of reasons why fares may drop to certain destination, including new routes opening up and more frequent services from low-cost carriers. For example, direct routes have resumed from London Heathrow to Ottawa.
Bryan Batista, CEO of Skyscanner, said: “Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends report shows how travel is about to get more personal than ever. Whether it’s building a trip around a must-stay ‘destination hotel’, getting lost in a new favourite book on a reading retreat, incorporating a beauty routine into their travel itinerary or bringing the whole family along for the journey, travel will become more curated, grounded and unique.”
It’s worth noting that taking the train from the UK to Cologne is quick, easy and much less harmful to the environment than flying. A train journey from London to Cologne generates around 12.7 kg of CO2 per passenger, a fraction of the estimated 45 kg from a flight on the same route, according to Eurostar analysis.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, pictured in June in the Oval Office, said drone incidents “threaten our safety” as his government put forward legislation to allow the shooting down of drones after a series of in recent weeks disrupted flights across Europe. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 8 (UPI) — Federal authorities in Germany were granted permission to shoot down drones following a series of recent sightings of unknown drones spotted near Munich.
The German government’s cabinet on Wednesday signed-off on the new reform package that now awaits approval of the Bundestag, the country’s parliament.
The move came after drones were seen at Munich Airport last week, which led to air traffic control suspensions and thousands of flights impacted directly.
“Drone incidents threaten our safety,” said Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Germany now joins Britain, France, Romania and Lithuania in extending police powers to down the flying objects.
“We will not allow that,” Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union party, said Wednesday on social media.
“We are strengthening the powers of the federal police so that drones can be detected and intercepted more quickly in future,” he added.
In addition, other rogue drones have been detected in Denmark, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Poland and Romania that have interrupted air traffic on the continent in recent weeks.
Officials in Denmark purport it to be a “professional” act by an unknown actor but other European Union leaders, including Merz, have pointed to Russia as the culprit.
Moscow, however, has denied the allegations.
It followed a similar pattern of unexplained drone flights earlier this year in the United States.
Meanwhile, authorities announced Wednesday that Russian drones attacked and seriously damaged a Ukrainian thermal power plant overnight in Russia’s escalating war in Ukraine and eastern Europe.
Videos show German police officers beating pro-Palestine protesters in Berlin after authorities banned a planned demonstration. Around 500 people gathered near Berlin’s City Hall chanting slogans and waving flags, before several were attacked and detained.
Here are the key events from day 1,322 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 8 Oct 20258 Oct 2025
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Here is how things stand on Wednesday, October 8, 2025:
Fighting
Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces have captured almost 5,000 square kilometres (1,930sq miles) of Ukrainian territory so far this year, and Moscow retains the strategic initiative on the battlefield.
Russian troops have captured the Ukrainian villages of Novovasylivka in the southeastern Zaporizhia region and Fedorivka in the eastern Donetsk region, Russia’s defence ministry said.
Russian air defence units destroyed 184 Ukrainian drones in recent attacks, the RIA Novosti state-owned news agency reports.
Russia’s air defence units also intercepted and destroyed a drone flying towards Moscow city, said Sergei Sobyanin, mayor of the Russian capital.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, right, as Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, centre, stands nearby during a visit to the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg on October 7, 2025 [Mikhail Metzel/AFP]
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said Russian air strikes have caused “significant” damage to Ukrainian gas production capacity due to the targeting of regional gas infrastructure and power transmission facilities in front-line regions.
Hrynchuk said Ukraine wants to increase imports of natural gas by 30 percent after Russian attacks on its gas infrastructure, telling reporters she had discussed additional gas imports with Group of Seven (G7) member states.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using oil tankers for intelligence gathering and sabotage operations, and he added that Ukraine was cooperating with its allies on the matter.
Russia’s state nuclear energy company has claimed that a Ukrainian drone attempted to strike a nuclear plant in Russia’s Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, but the unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a cooling tower and caused no damage at the site.
Military aid
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was waiting for clarity from the United States about the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying such weapons could theoretically carry nuclear warheads and reiterated that Moscow would see the provision of such weapons as a serious escalation.
The Kremlin also said it assumed for now that US President Donald Trump still sought a peace settlement in Ukraine.
Peace talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with President Putin and said diplomatic initiatives need to gain momentum to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan’s office said.
The statement cited Erdogan as saying Turkiye will continue to work for peace and said bilateral relations and regional and global issues were also discussed with Putin.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she believed Trump had come to the conclusion that Russia was not interested in a peace deal with Ukraine, and that the only way forward was to apply pressure, continue to support Ukraine, and impose sanctions on Russia.
Politics and diplomacy
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it is not in Poland’s interest to hand over a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany for suspected involvement in explosions which damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines three years ago.
Tusk said the problem with Nord Stream 2 was not that it was blown up but that it was built. He added that Russia built the pipelines “against the vital interests not only of our countries, but of all of Europe”.
A Polish court ruled on Monday that the Ukrainian diver wanted by Germany over his alleged involvement in the explosions, which damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline, must remain in custody for another 40 days, his lawyer said.
European Union governments have agreed to impose limits on the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc, the Financial Times reported.
Economy
Ukraine’s foreign currency reserves totalled $46.5bn as of October 1, the National Bank of Ukraine reported on its website.
Iranian FM warns that Europe has ‘eliminated justification for talks’ with UN nuclear watchdog after triggering snapback sanctions.
Published On 5 Oct 20255 Oct 2025
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Iran’s foreign minister has declared that cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog is “no longer relevant” after Western countries reinstated international sanctions on the country.
“The Cairo agreement is no longer relevant for our cooperation with the IAEA,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, referring to a deal signed last month with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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That agreement had laid out a framework for renewed inspections and monitoring after Tehran suspended cooperation following Israeli and United States attacks on its nuclear facilities in June.
However, the deal lost significance after Britain, France and Germany – all signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord – triggered the return of UN sanctions, accusing Iran of breaching its commitments, claims which Tehran has rejected.
“The three European countries thought they had leverage in their hands, threatening to implement a snapback,” Araghchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran. “Now they have used this lever and seen the results. The three European countries have definitely diminished their role and almost eliminated the justification for negotiations with them.”
He added that the European trio “will have a much smaller role than in the past” in any future talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Double standards
Tehran has accused the IAEA of double standards, saying the agency failed to condemn Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites despite its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Western states, led by the US and supported by Israel, have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons – allegations Tehran strongly denies. Iran insists its programme is purely civilian and that it retains the right to enrich uranium under the NPT.
Some Iranian lawmakers have suggested withdrawing from the NPT altogether, though President Masoud Pezeshkian has maintained that Iran will remain committed to its treaty obligations.
Araghchi said Tehran’s “decision regarding cooperation with the agency will be announced”, without elaborating, but noted that “there is still room for diplomacy”.
Talks between Iran and the US that began in April to revive a broader nuclear agreement collapsed after Israeli attacks in June targeted Iranian nuclear, military and residential sites.
Tehran has since accused Washington of sabotaging diplomacy and demanded guarantees and recognition of its rights before any potential resumption of negotiations.
Iran has repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon, while Israel is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal of dozens of atomic bombs.
The German airport says that 46 flights had been cancelled or delayed, affecting 6,500 passengers.
Published On 4 Oct 20254 Oct 2025
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Germany’s Munich airport has reopened after authorities shut it down the previous night for the second time in less than 24 hours after more suspected drone sightings, as fears heighten across Europe that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over across the continent.
The airport, one of Germany’s largest, reopened gradually from 7am local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday.
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Forty-six departures from the airport had to be cancelled or delayed until Saturday, affecting 6,500 passengers.
Munich airport said that on Friday, “from 9:30 pm air traffic was restricted and then cancelled due to drone sightings”, meaning 23 incoming flights were diverted and 12 bound for Munich were cancelled, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded.
A police spokesman told the AFP news agency that there were “two simultaneous confirmed drone sightings by police patrols just before 11pm around the north and south runways”.
“The drones immediately moved away, before they could be identified,” he added.
Authorities were not immediately able to provide any information about who was responsible for the overflights.
Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones, while Romania and Estonia have pointed the finger at Russia for drone incursions on their territory. Drones were also spotted overnight in Belgium above a military base.
Some experts have noted, however, that anybody with drones could be behind them.
Earlier on Friday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told newspaper Bild that the first night’s incident was a “wake-up call” on the threat from drones, adding that “more financing and research” on the issue was urgently needed at the national and European levels.
The disruptions came as the country celebrated German Unity Day on Friday – a national holiday – and as Munich geared up for the final weekend of Oktoberfest.
The annual beer gala and fun fair had already closed for half a day on Wednesday after a bomb scare.
The German government is expected on Wednesday to sign off on plans for a change in the law to let the army shoot drones down if necessary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Europe on Thursday that the recent drone incursions showed Moscow was looking to “escalate” its aggression.
Germany is on high alert, saying a swarm of them had flown over the country last week, including over military and industrial sites.
Denmark also raised the alarm, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterating last week that only one country “poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that’s Russia”.
Moscow said it “firmly rejects” any suggestion of involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of stoking “hysteria” to justify rising military spending.
Putin, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Thursday, joked about European claims that Russian drones had invaded NATO airspace, saying that he promised he would not do it again, in the case of Denmark, and that he did not have drones that could fly all the way to Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
“I will not. I will not [send] any more drones, neither to France nor to Denmark, Copenhagen. Where else do they fly to?” Putin quipped.
