‘Most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war, president Dan says
Romania’s Dan also offered his readout from the call with Nato’s Rutte.
He said it was “the most serious security incident to occur on Romanian territory since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“Full responsibility lies with the Russian Federation, whose behavior demonstrates total disregard for international law and for the safety of the citizens of a Nato member state.”
Dan stressed the need to work with Nato on strengthening the defence of the alliance’s eastern flank.
“Romania is a strong ally and will not accept Russia’s aggression against Ukraine threatening the security of Romanian citizens.”
Key events
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Ukraine ‘ready to support Romania in whatever way is necessary,’ Zelenskyy says
13m ago
Drone incident shows ‘Russia’s willingness to escalate,’ Germany’s Merz warns
30m ago
Germany’s Wadephul condemns Russia’s ‘reckless’ behaviour
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Slovakia’s Fico calls for direct EU-Russia talks, warns against escalation after Romania drone incident
1h ago
Hungary expects to sign political deal on reforms, frozen EU funds today, Magyar says
1h ago
EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance
1h ago
Hungarian police see ‘no grounds’ to ban Budapest Pride after government change
2h ago
Czechia’s president Pavel calls for ‘strong’ response so Russia ‘clearly understand’ Nato ‘will not tolerate such attacks’
2h ago
Hungary’s Magyar condemns drone incident as former PM Orbán says it reinforces need for Hungary’s ‘neutrality’
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‘Most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war, president Dan says
3h ago
US ambassador to Nato condemns drone incident in Romania
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First daylight pictures from the scene
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Russian drone spent four minutes in Romanian airspace, shooting it down was deemed to risky, minister says
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‘Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all,’ Nato’s Rutte says after call with Romanian president
3h ago
Morning opening: Russian drone hits apartment block, injures two in Nato member Romania
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Ukraine ‘ready to support Romania in whatever way is necessary,’ Zelenskyy says
Meahwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Ukraine’s help to Romania “in whatever way is necessary” urging European partners to “step up pressure on Russia so that this war is not dragged out or expanded.”
He says the drone that hit an apartment block in Galați was part of a broader strike on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, which borders Romania.
“We count on the European Union’s new sanctions measures against Russia to be truly strong and to make Russia feel that its strikes mean significant losses for Russia itself. That would be fair. Thank you to everyone helping protect life!”
ShareDrone incident shows ‘Russia’s willingness to escalate,’ Germany’s Merz warns
German chancellor Friedrich Merz also joined in the criticism, saying:
“Russia’s reckless drone incursion into Romania shows once again Russia’s willingness to escalate. Germany stands with our Nato Allies. The incident once again underscores the need for strong Nato posture on the Eastern flank. We are ready to defend every inch of Allied territory.”
ShareGermany’s Wadephul condemns Russia’s ‘reckless’ behaviour
Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul also condemned “Russia’s reckless behaviour” after last night’s drone incident in Romania.
“Our response is unity. We stand with Romania . Our thoughts are with those injured in tonights drone crash. We will continue to strengthen & European defence in Nato.”
ShareSlovakia’s Fico calls for direct EU-Russia talks, warns against escalation after Romania drone incident
Meanwhile, back to the overnight drone strike in Romania, more and more leaders are now joining in their condemnation of what happened.
Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico has warned against any escalation “that we may not be able to manage.”
He expressed “full solidarity” with Romania, but called for “restraint in making inflammatory statements,” while calling for an immediate start of “dialogue” between the EU and Russia.
ShareHungary expects to sign political deal on reforms, frozen EU funds today, Magyar says
Oh, and just like that, Hungary’s Péter Magyar has just confirmed plans to conclude a political agreement on the release of frozen EU funds this afternoon.
He is due to meet the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, at 1pm Brussels time.
ShareEU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance
Lisa O’Carroll
EU commissioners will meet on Friday for crunch talks aimed at imposing new restrictions on imports from China amid growing concern that Beijing is fuelling conditions for US-style rust belt towns in Europe.
Chinese-made BYD electric cars being prepared for export at a port in China. A rise in imports of goods from China, including electric vehicles has prompted concern across the EU. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
The surge in imports of everything from electric cars to key components in machines, medical devices and foodstuffs has been dubbed China Shock 2.0, potentially mirroring the experience in the US 25 years ago when Beijing joined the World Trade Organization.
Commissioners representing each member state have been asked to bring examples of Chinese activities in all 27 portfolios, spanning trade to agriculture, defence, health and digital initiatives to the talks.
Sources said no decisions would be taken on Friday but the talks would help “align” the commission’s thinking and address overproduction in China, which is leading imports into the EU to be sometimes up to 40% cheaper than local products.
It will also feed into the next leaders’ summit on 18 June when China will be one of the handful of items on the agenda.
ShareHungarian police see ‘no grounds’ to ban Budapest Pride after government change
Jakub Krupa
In other news, Hungarian police have said they will not ban next month’s Budapest Pride parade, signalling a shift in policy under the new prime minister, Péter Magyar.
The move stands in stark contrast to last year’s attempt to block the event under the nationalist government of Viktor Orbán.
“During the notification process for the 2026 Pride parade and the subsequent in-person consultation with the organisers, no grounds for prohibiting the assembly arose,” police told AFP in a statement.
Tens of thousands march against Hungary’s government for LGBT rights – video
The decision marks a major shift from years of crackdown on LGBTQ rights, which Orbán argued was necessary to “protect children”. The key law, passed in 2021, was last month found by the EU’s top court to be discriminatory and “contrary to the identity of the union.”
In January, prosecutors in Hungary filed charges against the progressive mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, seeking to fine him for last year’s event, attended by up to 200,000 people, which went ahead despite a government ban.
While Magyar remained vague on the issue before last month’s election and is yet to reverse the Orbán-era laws, he has hinted at a more liberal approach.
After winning the parliamentary election last month, Magyar pointedly said he was committed to freedom of assembly. “Everyone can live with whoever they love as long as they do not violate laws and they are not harmful to others,” he said.
Last month’s poll by the European Council of Foreign Relations found that 71% of Tisza voters supported, or somewhat supported, the new government protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
Restoring civil rights is also seen as part of a broader rule-of-law reset with the European Union, following years of bitter clashes with Orbán, as Magyar seeks to unfreeze billions in EU funds earmarked for Hungary’s struggling economy.
He is expected to hold further talks with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, later on Friday, and the two could strike a political deal on key reforms, needed to pave the way to restore EU funds to Hungary.
This year’s Budapest Pride parade is scheduled for 27 June.
Updated at 05.25 EDT
Jakub Krupa
Let’s quickly take a look at other news from around Europe before we get back to Romania for the latest.
Romania’s foreign minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu spoke with the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas this morning, discussing the overnight incident and “its implications for the safety of citizens.”
“I received assurances of strong European solidarity in response to this irresponsible escalation by the Russian Federation. We will accelerate the adoption of the new package of sanctions against Russia,” she said.
ShareCzechia’s president Pavel calls for ‘strong’ response so Russia ‘clearly understand’ Nato ‘will not tolerate such attacks’
Oh, and Czechia’s president Pavel has just made it clear that his views, as expressed in our interview last week, still stand as he called for “a strong international response” to the drone incident.
In a post on X, he said:
“The unprecedented night-time strike by a Russian drone on a residential building in Galați, Romania, which left two people injured, is completely unacceptable. However, we should not stop at simply condemning it together.
I therefore unequivocally support Romanian President Dan’s call for a strong international response.
Russia must clearly understand that we will not tolerate such attacks.”
ShareHungary’s Magyar condemns drone incident as former PM Orbán says it reinforces need for Hungary’s ‘neutrality’
Meanwhile, Hungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar “condemned in the strongest terms” the last night’s incident in Romania, expressing his country’s solidarity with the Romanian people.
“Yesterday’s Russian drone attack once again highlights that the unity of Europe and Nato is more important today than ever before,” he said.
But curiously, his predecessor, Viktor Orbán, also chose to speak publicly by putting more pressure on Hungary to “maintain the policy of neutrality” in response to the Russian aggression on Ukraine.
“This incident reinforces the fact that the war poses a direct threat to neighbouring countries,” he argued, urging the new administration in Budapest “to refrain from taking any steps towards the pro-war policy advocated by parts of Europe.”
Not a word of condemnation or criticism towards Russia from Orbán though.