The German Bundestag experienced a complete loss of Internet and intranet connectivity while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting the parliament. The outage was first noticed at about 14:30 CET, halting email transmission, and officials said the IT systems are now being restarted.
Investigations Underway
Authorities are working to identify the cause of the failure. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has been involved, and officials stated that neither an external cyber‑attack nor an internal technical fault can be ruled out at this stage.
President Zelensky was received by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) at roughly 14:00 CET. Whether his visit and the technical disruption are related remains unknown.
Failed EU Video Call
A scheduled video conference linking EU foreign ministers in Brussels with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were in Berlin for Ukraine talks, could not be completed because of connection problems. EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said she did not know if a cyber‑attack was involved, but confirmed that the technical setup failed.
The meeting, initiated by French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot, was intended to discuss progress on the U.S. peace proposal for the Gaza Strip, a topic in which Witkoff and Kushner have taken a leading role. The American officials are also working, on behalf of President Donald Trump, to craft an agreement aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
By contrast, a separate video link between EU foreign ministers and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, who was in Berlin, reportedly proceeded without issues.
Historical Context: 2015 Hacker Attack
In May 2015 the Bundestag suffered a significant cyber‑attack that compromised computers in many members’ offices, including the chancellor’s. The breach required a full replacement of the parliamentary IT system.
Five years later, former Chancellor Merkel publicly accused Russia of involvement, citing “hard evidence” from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Bundestag’s Internet outage occur?
The disruption was first detected at approximately 14:30 CET on the day President Zelensky was visiting.
Which agencies are investigating the cause?
Responsible bodies, including the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), are working to determine the source of the problem. Officials say neither an external cyber‑attack nor an internal malfunction can yet be excluded.
What happened during the 2015 cyber‑attack on the Bundestag?
In May 2015 the parliament’s computers were infected with espionage software, affecting many offices, including that of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and prompting a complete overhaul of the IT system.
How might this incident influence future parliamentary IT security measures?
