Germany, France and Poland aimed to display unity on Thursday in the face of hybrid attacks from Russia, days after Berlin formally accused Moscow of being behind an attempted attack involving an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig airport.
"Together, we want to defend and shape our European peace order, which we as Europeans achieved at the cost of immense sacrifice in the 20th century," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at a press conference in the central German city of Weimar alongside France's Jean-Noël Barrot and his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski.
"We are in agreement that the path to a new era of peace in Europe can only be achieved through resolute support for Ukraine and consistent pressure on Moscow," Wadephul added.
The trio met under the auspices of the Weimar Triangle, a format established in 1991 as a forum for dialogue between the three countries.
The meeting came after EU foreign ministers convened in Wicklow, Ireland on Wednesday to discuss the German government's attribution of responsibility to Russia for the incident in Leipzig on August 4.
Russia denies any involvement with the drone, which was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane after failing to detonate.
In response, Berlin said this week it was closing the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin.
Wadephul said the flurry of diplomacy showed a picture of solidarity in Europe.
"I believe this has certainly had an impact in Moscow as well. Germany is grateful for that."
Sikorski said Poland supports Germany's decisions regarding Russia. Warsaw, too, has summoned the Russian representative "to show that we are opposed to Russian terrorism," he said.
The Polish foreign minister said he was reluctant to speak of a "hybrid war," as the meaning is not widely understood. The term generally refers to a combination of military, economic, intelligence and propaganda measures, including state-sponsored cyberattacks and efforts to influence public opinion.
"It means aggression below the threshold of invasion," explained Sikorski.
Barrot, meanwhile, said that France has also summoned the Russian envoy in response to the incident in Lepzig.
"It is a serious matter when transport infrastructure is attacked in the heart of Europe," the French foreign minister stated.
France, Germany and Poland are "more determined than ever to act together for a sovereign, secure and prosperous Europe that is proud of its values," he added.
