Sun Sep 14 03:52:56 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the text:
**Romania, Poland Scramble Jets Amid Drone Incursions Linked to Russian Attacks in Ukraine**
Bucharest, Romania – Tensions are escalating along NATO’s eastern flank as both Romania and Poland scrambled fighter jets over the weekend in response to suspected drone incursions originating from Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Romania’s Ministry of National Defence reported that a drone breached its airspace on Saturday, prompting the immediate dispatch of two F-16 fighter jets and two Eurofighters (part of a German air policing mission). The jets tracked the drone until it disappeared from radar near the Romanian village of Chilia Veche. Minister of National Defence Ionut Mosteanu stated the pilots came close to engaging before it left the country’s airspace and helicopters are searching the border for any potential drone parts.
Simultaneously, Poland also deployed aircraft and temporarily closed Lublin Airport in response to a perceived threat of drone attacks. These actions follow an incident earlier in the week where Poland shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace, a move supported by NATO allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incursions, stating that data indicated a drone had penetrated roughly 10 kilometers into Romanian territory, operating in NATO airspace for approximately 50 minutes. He accused Russia of deliberately expanding the war, renewing calls for increased sanctions and collective defense measures.
The incidents have drawn strong reactions internationally. Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard called the breach “another unacceptable violation of NATO airspace,” reaffirming Sweden’s solidarity with Romania.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern over the Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, but said it remained unclear if it was a deliberate act by Russia. “We think it’s an unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous development,” Rubio told reporters. “No doubt about it: the drones were intentionally launched. The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected suggestions that the incursions were accidental. Former US President Donald Trump stated his readiness to impose “major sanctions” on Russia, contingent on all NATO nations simultaneously agreeing to and implementing the same measures, including halting oil purchases from Russia.
These incidents highlight the heightened state of alert in countries bordering Ukraine and the potential for further escalation as Russia’s war continues. NATO had already announced plans to bolster the defense of Europe’s eastern flank in response to recent airspace violations.
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