Russia has summoned multiple European ambassadors amid escalating diplomatic tensions, with Germany becoming the primary focus following accusations of cyberattacks and support for Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorff on July 13, 2026, accusing Berlin of backing Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure and interfering in Russia-China relations. Simultaneously, Germany and the Netherlands summoned Russian ambassadors over alleged cyber operations, which Moscow denies. TASS+2
Germany and EU partners accused Russia of conducting cyberattacks against state institutions, prompting Berlin to summon Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechaev. The Russian Embassy dismissed the claims as "baseless" and criticized Germany for escalating "anti-Russian hysteria." The Netherlands separately accused Russia of hacking military transport surveillance cameras. Tagesschau.de+2
Russia summoned German Ambassador Lambsdorff during his final week in Moscow, though details of the meeting were undisclosed. The Russian Foreign Ministry later released footage showing Lambsdorff arriving cheerfully, while simultaneously condemning Germany's "militarization" rhetoric and support for Ukraine. Berlin had earlier summoned Nechaev over the cyberattack allegations. Russian Gazette+2
Moscow explicitly linked the summons to Germany's backing of Ukraine, accusing Berlin of enabling attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned against EU sanctions expansion and criticized Germany's stance on third-country relations with Russia, particularly with China. Russian Gazette+2
The reciprocal summons highlight deteriorating Russia-EU relations, with cyber accusations and Ukraine policy as flashpoints. Russia framed Germany's actions as provocations, while EU states maintain their responses are defensive. The Netherlands' involvement underscores the widening scope of tensions beyond bilateral disputes. Die Welt+2