European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates successful a gathering with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders astatine the White House connected August 18, 2025 successful Washington, DC.
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The European Union (EU) connected Monday said Russia was suspected of jamming the GPS strategy of a level carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria connected Sunday.
"We tin so corroborate that determination was GPS jamming, but the level landed safely successful Bulgaria. We person received accusation from the Bulgarian authorities that they fishy that this was owed to blatant interference by Russia," a European Commission spokesperson said astatine a property briefing Monday.
"We are of people alert and utilized to the threats and intimidations that are a regular constituent of Russia's hostile behavior, and of people this volition lone reenforce further our unshakeable committedness to ramp up defence capabilities and enactment for Ukraine," the spokesperson added.
The incidental underlined the request to urgently put successful European defence and security, the spokesperson said.
Von der Leyen was connected a level chartered by the European Commission, the EU said. Asked by a newsman if the level had been the intended people of the alleged GPS jamming — which prevents entree to the satellite-based navigation strategy — the spokesperson said, "I deliberation the question is champion asked to the Russians if so it is them that person carried it out."
CNBC has contacted the Kremlin for a effect to the allegation. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Financial Times earlier that the accusation was "incorrect," however.
CNBC has contacted the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority for further accusation connected the incident. However, an earlier connection to the FT read: "Since February 2022, determination has been a notable summation successful [GPS] jamming and precocious spoofing occurrences," it said. "These interferences disrupt the close reception of [GPS] signals, starring to assorted operational challenges for craft and crushed systems."
Bulgaria's authorities connected Monday issued a statement, reported by Sky News, saying that "the outer awesome utilized for the aircraft's GPS navigation was disrupted."
"As the craft approached Plovdiv Airport, the GPS awesome was lost," the connection added.
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