Putin enforcer warns 'real war' has begun after botched explosive drone plot against NATO target

One of President Vladimir Putin’s most important mouthpieces has declared a recent drone incident in NATO territory is the “start of the real war.”

Firebrand Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has long been viewed as Putin’s primary Kremlin enforcer in international affairs. Previously, Lavrov is known to have accused The West of platting a nuclear attack, denied Russian ever invaded Ukraine and robustly defended the actions of his leader over the conduct of his murderous invasion of what had been a peaceful neighbour, reports The Express US.

Now, Lavrov has set his sites on NATO member Germany, after its government assessed it was Russia that was behind an alleged explosive drone attack against its territory.

Emergency services, police and firefighers were deployed at German airport Leipzig-Halle (Getty)

According to reports, Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany was subject to an attempted attack by an explosive-laden drone, which only failed to explode due to a faulty detonator investigators later found on board. A second drone is reported to have collided with a parked plane, and a third was uncovered near to the airport over a week later.

The first device was also discovered close to Ukrainian cargo planes. Investigators believe the intention of the plot was to destroy or severely damage these aircraft in an attempt to disrupt the Ukraine war effort.

In response to the discovery, which after an investigation Germany stated was of Russian origin, a Russian consulate and a cultural centre in Berlin were both closed.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) welcomes US special envoy Steve Witkoff (Getty)

Commenting on the matter before Lavrov waded into the dispute, Putin himself accused Germany of planting evidence against Russia. But the Russian leader failed to provide any proof of his own accusations against the NATO member.

Over the weekend, US officials acting on behalf of President Trump were in high level meetings with the very top of the Russian chain of command to discuss a future peace deal with Ukraine.

Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met face-to-face with Putin, where it was noted by Western journalists that Witkoff appeared to be overly ingratiating in his manner towards the Russian leader.

Putin has been fighting a brutal war in Ukraine

Witkoff, who was joined by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, then travelled to Ukraine where they met President Zelensky.

After completing talks with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Witkoff told reporters the negotiations had been "substantive" and "important."

"We are very encouraged," he added.