Sergey Lavrov says Berlin "could not have failed to understand" its move would close Goethe-Institut

At Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Goethe-Institut locations in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg would be shut. He made the announcement after Berlin ordered the closure of Russia’s Bonn consulate and the Russian House cultural venue in Germany’s capital, and he contended that Germany’s move would also finish off its own cultural offerings in Russia. The diplomatic split follows Germany’s accusation that Moscow was behind an attempted explosive-drone attack near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport last month. Western officials have accused Russia of a wider sabotage and destabilization effort against Europe; President Vladimir Putin dismissed such claims as fabricated. EU ministers have discussed further sanctions and other steps, with nearly two dozen sanction packages already in place over the war in Ukraine.