Putin says it's too early to say if the drone which strayed into Romania was Russian
Putin stated it’s premature to attribute a Russian-made drone that crashed in Romania to Russia, suggesting the debris must be examined first. NATO condemned the airspace breach and reaffirmed its commitment to defend allied territory.
A Russian drone crashed into an apartment block in Romania, prompting NATO to condemn Moscow's alleged reckless behaviour and pledge to defend every inch of allied territory. The incident occurred during what Romania described as an attack on neighbouring Ukraine, although Russian President Vladimir Putin cast doubt on the origin of the drone, suggesting it could have been Ukrainian. NATO swiftly responded to the breach of Romanian airspace, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stating that the alliance would take all necessary measures to protect its members.
Putin, speaking at a news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, questioned the immediate attribution of the drone to Russia, arguing that no definitive conclusion could be drawn until an examination of the debris had been conducted. "Who in Romania says that this is a Russian drone?" he asked reporters, adding that he had only just been briefed on the incident after a day of talks. The Kremlin leader also cited past instances where initial accusations against Russia were later disproven, including reports of Russian drones in Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states that were later attributed to Ukrainian or other sources.
The Russian president further dismissed remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had accused Moscow of crossing another line with the incident. Putin contended that von der Leyen had not personally examined the drone debris, calling for Romania to share information and potentially fragments with Moscow to enable a joint investigation. His remarks underscored the Kremlin’s strategy of deflecting responsibility while demanding transparency from NATO and EU states.
The incident has intensified concerns over the spillover risk of Russia’s war in Ukraine, with NATO allies closely monitoring the situation. While Romania confirmed the drone was Russian-made, Putin’s scepticism highlights the challenges of verifying such claims amid the fog of war. As tensions rise, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the potential for miscalculation in a conflict that has already drawn in neighbouring countries.
