Different European countries expressed this Friday their condemnation of Russia’s “irresponsible act” after a drone struck a residential building in the city of Galati in the early hours of this Friday, in the east of the country near the border with Ukraine and Moldova, accusing Moscow of taking another step in its military escalation in the war against the neighboring country.
In statements to Radio France, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, described the incident in Romania, an EU and NATO partner, as an “irresponsible act by Russia” and confirmed the summoning of the Russian ambassador to France to convey that the recent escalation with “massive attacks” against civilians, “threats against French and European diplomats” and “this new irresponsible act” are “inconsequential and vain intimidations” that will not change the position of support for Kyiv.
According to Barrot, these types of incursions, added to incidents in Poland, Latvia, or Lithuania, are “a desperate attempt” by Russian President Vladimir Putin “to hide his failure.” In his view, after more than four years of war in Ukraine without achieving his objectives, “doubt has settled in Moscow.”
Regarding NATO’s response, which has a combat battalion in Romania and maintains an air patrol mission, Barrot assured that the Atlantic Alliance has “a whole range of possible responses.” “If the security of a NATO country is compromised, the response can be devastating,” he emphasized, insisting that NATO will be “firm” but “proportionate” in its reply.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, stressed that the episode in Romania “once again shows Russia’s willingness to escalate” in the war context. He said the case highlights the need for “a strong NATO presence on the eastern flank.” “We are prepared to defend the alliance’s territory,” he emphasized.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar emphasized that the attack once again shows that the unity of Europe and NATO “is more important than ever.” “Hungary strongly condemns all attacks that endanger the civilian population and constitute a violation of the territory and airspace of a sovereign EU and NATO member state,” he said.
On Austria’s side, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker called the episode “another dangerous escalation” by Russia “absolutely reprehensible.” “I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We stand in full solidarity with our friends and partners in Romania and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said, stressing the need for joint European efforts to strengthen capabilities against the threat posed by drone attacks.
His Czech counterpart, Andrej Babis, expressed his condemnation of the attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure, noting that “one of the drones also hit a residential building in Romanian territory and injured two people.” “The Czech Republic firmly stands with our alliance partners and likewise condemns the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed his condemnation, insisting that Moscow “is crossing another line in its war of aggression against Ukraine” and emphasizing that Helsinki stands with an ally like Romania and continues to support Ukraine in its defense.
