Solidarity with Poland

Romania, alongside other states in the region, has expressed its solidarity with Poland, after Russian drones entered the latter’s territory.

Daniela Budu, 11.09.2025, 13:50

Poland on Wednesday scrambled its own and NATO’s air defence systems to shoot down drones in its airspace, following a Russian air strike on Ukraine. According to Reuters and France Presse, Poland became the first NATO member to have fired shots during Russia’ war in Ukraine, describing the violation of its airspace as an “act of aggression”. Poland accused Moscow of launching these unmanned vehicles as part of a “provocation”. In response, the Russian defence ministry said the attack did not target Poland and that there was no intention to hit targets on Polish territory.

Romania stands in solidarity with Poland, which on Tuesday night neutralised Russian drones inside its own airspace, and, if need be, procedures are in place “to respond in the same way” in Romania, said the country’s president Nicuşor Dan. He said Poland and NATO countries demonstrated that they are ready and that they can react in real time. He recalled that drones also fell accidentally on Romanian territory. He added that there is yet no reason for concern and emphasised that Bucharest is fully prepared, in light of a law approved recently by Parliament and the procedures established by the country’s Supreme Defence Council.

In fact, the defence ministry in Bucharest said its air defence radar systems also detected on Tuesday night a group of air drones in the area of the Ukrainian village of Vylkove, on the border with Romania. Two Romanian Air Force F-16 planes took off for research missions and sent a text message alert to residents in the area. The ministry says no air vehicle was reported to have entered Romanian airspace and that it will keep a close eye on the situation, constantly monitoring the country’s air, sea and land space.

Speaking about the drones that entered Polish territory, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there is indication that Moscow acted deliberately, seeking to test the West’s unity. The speaker of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, underlined Poland’s right to defend itself, adding that such situations show that the European Union is ready to defend itself against an attack.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte denounced Russia’s “dangerous” behaviour following the incursion of Russian drones into Poland’s airspace and to which NATO responded very efficiently. US president Doland Trump also condemned Russia’s violation of Poland’s airspace. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned of a real risk of the conflict in Ukraine to extend beyond the country’s borders.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia tested the limits of what is possible and how NATO would react and again called on measures against Russia.

Germany, the UK, Hungary and Slovakia have also expressed their solidarity with Poland.