Russia to close German cultural centres as Moscow, Europe spar over Ukraine
MOSCOW: (Sep 3) (AP) Russia will shutter German cultural centres across the country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, in a tit-for-tat measure that reflected soured relations and deepening tensions between Moscow and European countries that are helping Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion.
Lavrov’s announcement came after Berlin blamed Moscow for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Germany said it was closing both the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in the German capital.
Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption in their countries with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilising European nations, something Russian officials deny. Europe increasingly views itself as facing what it calls a hybrid war with Russia, marked by tools such as cyberwarfare and disinformation as well as a conventional military threat. Each side accuses the other of state terrorism.
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