The German government blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig airport last month using a drone laden with explosives. It announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among measures.

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

Germany closed Russia's Bonn consulate after linking Moscow to a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport targeting a Ukrainian cargo aircraft.

Russia will shut German cultural centres after Berlin moved against Russian facilities. The tit-for-tat step deepens Europe's standoff with Moscow over alleged hybrid attacks tied to the Ukraine war.

Russian officials denied involvement in placing an explosive-laden drone near an airport runway at Leipzig/Halle in August.

The European Union is grappling with how to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia

By Andrew Gray and Andreas Rinke BRUSSELS/BERLIN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Wednesday to increase pressure on Russia, including with new sanctions, after an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany that she said showed Moscow's growing "recklessness".

The German government is blaming Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced it would shut down a Russian consulate, among other measures against Moscow.

A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at the airport close to Ukrainian cargo planes on 4 August.

Officials said the Aug. 4 attempt was part of a campaign aimed at undermining European support for Ukraine against Russia.

Russia does not intend to downgrade diplomatic relations with Germany despite Berlin's announced closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Moscow would not initiate any