Romania, Poland Bolster Air Defenses Amid Cross-Border Strikes
Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets late Saturday after detecting a drone in its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near the shared Danube River border. The incident marks the first confirmed airspace breach in Romania since the war began. Meanwhile, Poland activated NATO-aligned aircraft and air defense systems as Russian drones struck western Ukraine, heightening regional tensions.
Zelenskyy Calls for Unified Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia's expanding drone operations represent a deliberate escalation, urging Western allies to implement stronger sanctions and enhance defense coordination. "Do not wait for dozens of 'Shaheds' before finally making decisions," he stated, referencing Iranian-designed drones used in recent attacks.
Sanctions Debate Intensifies
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated demands for NATO members to halt Russian oil purchases before implementing new sanctions. The comments followed Poland's rejection of his earlier suggestion that a drone incursion into Polish airspace might have been accidental. Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed responsibility for striking a major Russian oil refinery in Ufa – part of Kyiv's strategy to disrupt Moscow's war financing.
