Romania and Ukraine Establish Direct Contact Over Drone Incident

President Nicusor Dan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Kyiv on July 15, 2026, during the fifth Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit to resolve a drone incident that occurred in Constanta, Romania. Dan announced that the two nations have established direct contact to prevent future occurrences, noting that previous direct communication for such incidents had been lacking.

As part of the response, the Romanian Army, Ministry of the Interior, and Coast Guard have intensified patrol operations. Technical discussions are ongoing, and Romania expects detailed answers from the Ukrainian government within a few weeks to fully elucidate the event. The leaders also discussed the implementation of early warning mechanisms for drones and broader maritime security in the Black Sea.

Beyond the drone incident, the presidents reviewed cross-border connectivity, energy security projects, and the preservation of Romanian-language schools for the Romanian minority in Ukraine. Dan attended Ukraine's Statehood Day ceremony, where he condemned Russia's "instrumentalization of history" and reaffirmed Romania's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and European integration.