The EU summons the Russian chargé d’affaires following the drone incidents in Romania and the attack on the Latvian Consulate in Ukraine

Brussels – “Today we summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires to the European External Action Service as part of our response to the overflight of Romanian airspace by Russian drones and the destruction of the Latvian honorary consulate.” This was stated during today’s (28 July) daily press briefing by the European Commission spokesperson, Anour El Anouni, regarding the repeated incursions by Russian drones in Romania and the destruction of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Ukraine. In Ukraine alone, the attacks are reported to have caused the deaths of around ten victims.

The intention to summon him had already been announced by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who, on 24 July, had reiterated on her social media channels that “the attack on the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Slovyansk (Ukraine) highlights Moscow’s utter disregard for international law.” Kallas had also stated that she would propose “further targeted sanctions against the Russian military-industrial complex.” This news was confirmed today by El Anouni.

“We have expressed our firm condemnation of the deliberate violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones,” emphasised El Anouni, who described the attacks as a reckless act. This “signals a serious escalation on Russia’s part and threatens the security of EU citizens, regional stability, and international peace,” he added. The spokesperson then reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Romania and Latvia, emphasising that the EU will continue “to firmly support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the United Nations Charter and international law.”