Russia shutters German consulate as diplomatic freeze deepens

Moscow has ordered the closure of the German consulate in St Petersburg.

Key points

• Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that the consulate in the second city must cease operations by September 18.
• Tensions between Berlin and Moscow rose last week as Germany produced the accusation regarding the failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
• Berlin shuttered two Russian diplomatic operations in Germany last week, having accused Moscow of being behind an attempted drone attack on Leipzig Airport.
• As it made public the accusations, Germany ordered the closure of Russia's consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin.
• Russia has now ordered that all diplomats and staff from the St Petersburg consulate must leave the country by September 18.

Notably, the order represents a tit-for-tat move, and brings into the open the growing ill feeling between the two countries against the backdrop of Russia's war on Ukraine.

In an official note published on Telegram on Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry remarked Germany has "provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations", and bears "full responsibility for the consequences".

On Sunday, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov denounced Germany for its accusation regarding the drone attack, and asserted that the allegations marked "the beginning of a real war".

In practice, the closure of the German consulate marks a new low in Moscow and Berlin's diplomatic relations. It have seriously deteriorated since Russia introduced its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Germany has emerged as one of Ukraine's strongest supporters in Europe, allocating more than $50bn in civilian aid for Kyiv and almost $67bn in military assistance, according to its Foreign Ministry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly condemned the West's backing for Ukraine.

Putin has dismissed the allegations, claiming, without offering details, that the evidence was "planted".

Moscow retaliated by ordering all branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut closed. Its staff members have been ordered to leave Russia by Sunday.

Lavrov remarked Berlin's closure of Russia's diplomatic institutions last week reminded him of events that preceded World War II, describing the measures as "absolutely unacceptable" and accusing Germany of wanting "war again".

Taken together, the developments around russia shutters German consulate as diplomatic freeze deepens point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.