The Japan Times - Romania wants to boost air defence after drone strike blamed on Russia

Oana Toiu said there was no suggestion yet that Russia had intentionally targeted the 10-storey block in Galati on Friday last week, but Moscow bore "responsibility" for the strike over four years into the invasion of its neighbour.

"It is quite clear that we need to increase air monitoring and air defence capabilities throughout the eastern flank (of NATO)," she told reporters in Paris.

"But for us the pressure is even higher," she said, adding that NATO and EU member Romania had had a long border with Ukraine that stretched along the Danube river and out into the Black Sea.

Toiu said it would be one to two more years before new equipment arrived from Romania's own defence procurement.

But she added Bucharest was in talks with NATO on boosting its capabilities in the short term, as well as working with Kyiv on a joint anti-drone air defence project.

She said Romania had been aware of an incoming drone on May 29 but air force pilots decided not to shoot it down out of concern that an air defence missile could itself cause damage on the ground.

While this was the first such incident to cause casualties inside Romania, Toiu said there had been more than 40 instances of drone incursions inside Romanian territory.

"There is a common understanding that we need to have better air defence of the eastern flank and not just Romania," she said.

Romania's President Nicusor Dan at the weekend said that Bucharest had confirmed the drone in the strike was Geran-2, saying it was "of Russian origin".

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that "no one" could determine the aircraft's origin with any authority until a thorough examination was carried out.

Toiu said Kyiv was "now stronger in holding the front line" and was ready for talks on a ceasefire in the conflict sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

But there needed to be "increased pressure" for Moscow to show an interest in diplomacy, she added.

There was now, she added, "no scenario" under which Russia could claim a "full win" in the war.

S.Ogawa--JT