A spokesperson for the European Commission informed TIME that a plane transporting the European Commission’s president experienced suspected Russian GPS interference during an attempted landing in Bulgaria.
In an emailed statement, European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Arianna Podestà stated, “Bulgarian authorities have provided us with information indicating they suspect Russia conducted this overt interference. We recognize that threats and intimidation are a consistent element of Russia’s aggressive actions.” Podestà also confirmed that the aircraft landed without incident on Sunday, despite the GPS jamming.
According to Podestà, this incident will merely “further solidify” the European Commission’s “steadfast dedication to enhancing [its] defense capacities and aid for Ukraine.”
An individual knowledgeable about the situation informed TIME that the pilots successfully landed the aircraft by utilizing paper maps.
TIME has sought comments from Bulgarian Authorities and the Russian Foreign Ministry concerning these accusations.
A staunch ally of the Ukrainian President, von der Leyen has often condemned Russia’s actions against Ukraine following its.
Last week, she sharply criticized the Russian attacks that targeted the E.U. delegation in Kyiv for the first time, as well as the British Council building. She pressed, “Russia must immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure and engage in negotiations for a fair and enduring peace.”
On Sunday, in the Bulgarian town of Sopot, von der Leyen stated that shells are manufactured for both E.U. and Ukrainian stockpiles, and she lauded the facility for enhancing “Europe’s security as a whole.”
Proceeding with her tour of frontline member states on Monday, von der Leyen traveled to Lithuania, a country bordering Russia, and revealed that an economic blueprint for the upcoming five years is scheduled for October, aiming to tackle defense investments concerning the conflict in Ukraine and Russian provocations against other adjacent nations.
“You face geopolitical and economic pressure, alongside continuous military and hybrid threats,” was stated during a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
In July, the European Commission disclosed sanctions targeting Russian individuals and entities accused of these “hybrid threats,” specifically including one Russian firm and two individuals connected to signal jamming originating from Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave.
“GNSS signal disturbances across several European nations have been associated with electronic warfare operations emanating from Kaliningrad, encompassing jamming and spoofing of GNSS signals, predominantly impacting the Baltic States and interfering with civil aviation,” read the .
These recent claims of Russian interference in GPS systems emerge nearly three weeks following U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a “” summit.
The encounter marked the first face-to-face interaction between the Presidents , and aimed to encourage discussions regarding a route to a possible cease-fire. However, it concluded prematurely and, significantly, without any agreement being finalized.
Since then, Trump has convened with Zelensky and prominent European leaders at the White House to deliberate on potential next steps, where he dismissed the idea of deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of security assurances.