May 29, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 29.05.2026, 20:18
DRONE – The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Constanța (in the southeast, Romania’s largest port city on the Black Sea) has been declared persona non grata, President Nicușor Dan announced on Friday, following the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT). According to the head of state, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Constanța will be closed. He recalled that “last night we faced a serious incident in which two Romanian citizens were injured, and full responsibility for this incident lies with Russia, a country waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than four years.” A drone exploded on a residential building in Galați, a city not far from Romania’s border with Ukraine, which remains under Russian invasion. According to doctors, a 53 year old woman and her 14 year old son were injured but are now out of danger. Nicusor Dan travelled to Galați, where he visited the two victims in hospital. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin had been informed about the drone explosion in Galați but offered no further comment. For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that Russia will respond to the Romanian authorities’ decision to declare the Russian consul in Constanța persona non grata.
REACTIONS – Romania’s acting foreign minister, Oana Ţoiu, summoned the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to convey the decisions taken by the Romanian authorities following the crash of a Russian drone into an apartment building in Galați. NATO and the European Union issued strong reactions after the incident. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Alliance stands ready to defend every inch of its members’ territory, and said he had assured Romania’s president of this during their conversation on Friday morning. Rutte added that Russia’s reckless behavior endangers all allies, emphasizing that NATO will continue strengthening its defenses and supporting Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that Russia has once again crossed a red line, stressing that the European Union stands in solidarity with Romania and its citizens. She noted that the EU is continuing to reinforce its defenses, particularly on the eastern flank, and will intensify pressure to ensure that Russia can no longer sustain its war. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Moscow can no longer be allowed to violate European airspace without being held accountable. A message also came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wrote online that Ukraine will support Romania in any way necessary and that his country is counting on the EU’s new sanctions against Russia to be genuinely forceful, strong enough for Russia to feel that its attacks are inflicting significant losses on itself. Further reactions followed from European Council President António Costa and from across the wider European space. France summoned the Russian ambassador in Paris. Austria described the incident as a serious escalation, while the Baltic states, Poland, and Belgium urged an urgent strengthening of the eastern flank. Even Hungary, until now more restrained, condemned the incident, expressed solidarity with Romania, and called for unity within both the EU and NATO.
PRIME MINISTER – Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has cut short his visit to neighboring Moldova in order to return to Romania amid the emergency context triggered by the crash of a military drone onto an apartment building in the city of Galați, southeastern Romania, not far from the border with Ukraine, which remains under Russian invasion. The information was confirmed by officials in Chișinău. During his visit, Bolojan held a meeting with his counterpart, the pro Western Alexandru Munteanu, and took part in a discussion on administrative matters. He later met with President Maia Sandu. His schedule had also included a visit to the new headquarters of a local town hall and to an educational center, both local development projects implemented with support from the Romanian government.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea has advanced to the round of 16 at the French Open after defeating Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6–0, 6–0. Cîrstea, ranked 18th in the world and set to retire at the end of the year, is enjoying an exceptional season, with a title in Cluj Napoca and semifinal appearances in Rouen and Rome. The Romanian has secured a cheque of 285,000 euros and 240 WTA ranking points. In the Round of 16, she will face China’s Xiyu Wang, ranked 148th, who managed to overcome Ukraine’s Iulia Starodubtseva 6–3, 7–5.
TRAVEL – Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory on Friday for Portugal, where a nationwide general strike by workers has been announced for June 3, 2026, with expected disruptions in the transport sector. Significant irregularities may occur across Portugal’s transportation network, with authorities anticipating substantial delays or cancellations affecting air, rail, and maritime services. (EE)
