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Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is “ready to support Romania in whatever way is necessary” after a Russian drone struck a residential building in the Romanian city of Galați overnight on May 29.
Ukraine’s president called on the European Union to step up pressure on Russia so that Moscow’s war “is not dragged out or expanded”.
“We count on the European Union’s new sanctions measures against Russia to be truly strong and to make Russia feel that its strikes mean significant losses for Russia itself,” he said. “That would be fair.”
Zelenskyy explained that last night Russia launched a deliberate attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, which borders Romania.
“This was yet another cynical attack on civilian infrastructure in our cities and in our waters, targeting civilian container ships,” he said, explaining that the drone that struck the Romanian building was “essentially a ‘shahed’ equivalent”.
Before the drone incursion into Romania, Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning about a group of Russian drones over the Odesa region headed in the direction of Reni.
The straight-line distance from Reni to Galați, a city of 200,000 people, is about 20 km.
Overall Russia launched 232 drones against Ukraine overnight on 28-29 May. Air defence forces intercepted 217 of them.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also said on Friday that Russia poses a “real threat” to the Black Sea region and all of Europe.
“Strengthening support to Ukraine and increasing pressure on the aggressor, including through tougher sanctions, remain critical… Bolstering Ukraine’s air defence is also a strategic task – to protect not only our country, but also reduce risks for our neighbours,” Sybiha said.
He added that Ukraine stands by Romania and is ready to work closely to strengthen protection from such threats.
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