BUCHAREST: Romania on Sunday strongly condemned the entry of a Russian drone into its airspace during an attack on neighboring Ukraine, with the foreign ministry summoning Moscow’s ambassador over the incident.
The incursion comes days after fellow NATO member Poland said it had shot down Russian drones which had violated its airspace as Moscow launched a barrage against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of “testing” Romania and wanting to “bring the war” to Poland and the Baltic with the intrusions.
Earlier on Sunday, NATO member Romania had said that Moscow’s actions pose a “new challenge” to Black Sea security.
Foreign Minister Oana Toiu also announced that Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, would be summoned over Saturday’s drone incident to the ministry.
After the meeting on Sunday evening, the ministry said in a statement that Romania had “conveyed its strong protest against this unacceptable and irresponsible act, which constitutes a violation of (its) sovereignty.”
“Such recurring incidents contribute to the escalation and amplification of threats to regional security,” said the statement, adding that Moscow was “urgently requested... to prevent any future violations.”
Poland had already denounced the intrusion of Russian drones into its airspace, calling on Moscow to avoid further “provocations.” Polish fighter jets scrambled Saturday in response to fresh Russian drone strikes just over the border in Ukraine.
Romania has had several drone fragments crash on its territory since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, especially as Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian ports.
In a statement, Romania’s defense ministry said it “strongly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasizes that they represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area.”
It added that “such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation’s lack of respect for international law.”
In his evening address on Sunday, Zelensky repeated his argument that Russia was seeking to expand its invasion of his country.
“Everyone can see that the Russians are exploring how to bring the war to Poland and the Baltic states. The Russian army is also testing Romania,” the Ukrainian leader said.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the Russian action a “reckless” threat to security.
“The violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones is yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state’s sovereignty,” Kallas wrote on X.
“This continued reckless escalation threatens regional security. We stand in solidarity with Romania. I am in close contact with the Romanian government.”
Russia has not yet commented since Romania reported late Saturday that its airspace had been breached by a drone during a Russian attack in neighboring Ukraine, but has denied targeting Poland.
Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets, which “detected a drone in national airspace” and tracked it until it dropped off the radar, the defense ministry said.
In its statement Sunday, the ministry said that a “Geran drone used by” Russia had entered Romanian airspace.
It added that the drone “orbited for about 50 minutes, from northeast of (the village of) Chilia Veche to southwest of Izmail, and left national airspace near the town of Pardina, heading toward Ukraine.”
Romania’s fighter jets were “supported by German allies... with two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft,” which monitored the situation.
The drone did not fly over populated areas and did not pose an imminent threat to the safety of the population, said the statement.
Toiu said on X that she will “raise Russia’s actions at (the) UN General Assembly, urging a strict international adherence to sanctions.”
In February, the Romanian parliament adopted a law allowing the country to shoot down drones breaching its airspace.
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Romania summons Russian ambassador over drone ‘threat’
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Romania summons Russian ambassador over drone ‘threat’
- Bucharest strongly condemns entry of a Russian drone into its airspace during attack on Ukraine
- Comes after Nato member Poland said it had shot down Russian drones
UN says lacks billions of dollars to feed world’s hungry
- Up to 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026
- UN agencies this year declared famine in Gaza and parts of Sudan
ROME: The UN’s World Food Programme warned Tuesday that funding cuts mean it will struggle to feed even a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026.
“Declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritize food assistance to roughly one third of those in need,” targeting 110 million of the most vulnerable, it said in a statement.
That would cost $13 billion, the agency estimated – but warned that “current funding forecasts indicate WFP may only receive close to half that goal.”
The WFP’s largest donor is the United States which, under President Donald Trump, has cut foreign aid, including to UN agencies. Other big donors, including some European nations, have also shrunk their humanitarian budgets.
The 318 million people facing acute hunger is more than double the figure recorded in 2019, as conflict, extreme weather and economic instability have taken their toll, the WFP said.
UN agencies this year declared famine in Gaza and parts of Sudan, something that WFP executive director Cindy McCain called “completely unacceptable in the 21st century.”
In a foreword to the WFP’s 2026 Global Outlook report, she said the world’s response “remains slow, fragmented and underfunded.”
“Global aid now covers less than half of total needs, with steep reductions in food assistance. Almost all operations have had to cut food and cash, and prioritize which vulnerable group receive help,” she wrote.
“At the same time, attacks on aid workers have surged, revealing a growing disregard for international humanitarian law.”
For those facing hunger in 2026, 41 million people are classified as facing emergency or worse levels.
Last week, both UN food agencies – WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – warned of 16 “hunger hotspots” around the globe, from Haiti to South Sudan, saying that funding shortfalls were worsening already dire conditions.
In a joint report, the agencies said that they had so far received only $10.5 billion out of a required $29 billion to help those at risk.
“Declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritize food assistance to roughly one third of those in need,” targeting 110 million of the most vulnerable, it said in a statement.
That would cost $13 billion, the agency estimated – but warned that “current funding forecasts indicate WFP may only receive close to half that goal.”
The WFP’s largest donor is the United States which, under President Donald Trump, has cut foreign aid, including to UN agencies. Other big donors, including some European nations, have also shrunk their humanitarian budgets.
The 318 million people facing acute hunger is more than double the figure recorded in 2019, as conflict, extreme weather and economic instability have taken their toll, the WFP said.
UN agencies this year declared famine in Gaza and parts of Sudan, something that WFP executive director Cindy McCain called “completely unacceptable in the 21st century.”
In a foreword to the WFP’s 2026 Global Outlook report, she said the world’s response “remains slow, fragmented and underfunded.”
“Global aid now covers less than half of total needs, with steep reductions in food assistance. Almost all operations have had to cut food and cash, and prioritize which vulnerable group receive help,” she wrote.
“At the same time, attacks on aid workers have surged, revealing a growing disregard for international humanitarian law.”
For those facing hunger in 2026, 41 million people are classified as facing emergency or worse levels.
Last week, both UN food agencies – WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – warned of 16 “hunger hotspots” around the globe, from Haiti to South Sudan, saying that funding shortfalls were worsening already dire conditions.
In a joint report, the agencies said that they had so far received only $10.5 billion out of a required $29 billion to help those at risk.
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