Russia indeed planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, whose company provides military aid to Ukraine, Politico reports, citing James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation,

NATO said on Tuesday that acts of sabotage carried out across the military alliance over the past years included threats to plot the murder of industry leaders such as the head of German arms maker Rheinmetall.

Sabotage acts in NATO countries in recent years have included threats to assassinate weapons industry leaders, particularly the German arms maker Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger, NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary-General James Appathurai said on Jan.

European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to continue sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, but to ease some sanctions against Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. Weeks of stalling by Hungary ended Monday,

Sanctions targeting Russia's economy are renewed by the EU, with Hungary backing down from a veto that delayed the decision.