On Sunday, European Union leaders expressed their outrage after a second violation of EU territory by Russian forces occurred in less than a week. This latest incident involved a Russian drone breaching Romanian airspace during an attack on southern Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incursion, labeling it a “blatant violation of EU sovereignty” and a significant threat to regional security in a post shared on X.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed von der Leyen's sentiments, referring to Saturday's breach as “yet another unacceptable breach of an EU Member State’s sovereignty.” Kallas emphasized that this continued reckless escalation poses a serious threat to regional security, highlighting the precarious situation along Europe’s eastern borders.
The atmosphere along Europe’s eastern borders has been tense, especially after NATO forces intercepted 19 Russian drones that had invaded Poland’s airspace the previous Wednesday. In response to the escalating situation, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets were deployed on Saturday and detected a Russian drone during a scouting exercise aimed at monitoring Russian airstrikes across the border in Ukraine.
Romania’s foreign minister condemned the drone incursion, describing it as “unacceptable and reckless.” Fortunately, Romania’s defense ministry reported that no damage or injuries occurred as a result of the incident. This latest breach follows a previous incursion into Poland, where five drones were on a direct flight toward a NATO base before being intercepted by Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, also without causing damage.
The incidents have raised concerns regarding the transatlantic alliance’s preparedness to handle drone threats, which have become a crucial element in modern warfare since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine. In the recent encounter, NATO forces utilized equipment worth billions of dollars to counter Russian drones, which were reportedly constructed from wood and foam, highlighting a significant disparity in military technology.
In other news, new French Prime Minister Gérald Darmanin has decided to abandon previous proposals aimed at eliminating two national holidays as part of a budget-cutting initiative. Furthermore, Elon Musk has called for a new UK government during a far-right rally in London, stating, “You either fight back or you die,” through a video link at the demonstration organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Additionally, the EU is exploring a “creative” new strategy to utilize billions in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort. This involves potentially replacing seized assets with EU bonds to fund military activities. In financial news, the former president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has denied allegations of a €1 million corruption scandal, which centers around a reported payoff deal involving a senior official.
