Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on Friday that representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) will request within the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) meeting, a diplomatic action plan which includes sanctions against Russian diplomats in Bucharest. The statement comes in the context of the incident which occurred the previous night in Galati.

'I would point out two aspects, first of all what happened last night in Romania, in Galati. As I said, I strongly condemn this irresponsible action by Russia and we are working at this time and in these days on three levels. The first is the diplomatic one and we agreed this morning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the action that will be proposed in the CSAT meeting, through diplomatic channels, so that we adopt sanctions regarding Russian diplomats in Bucharest,' Ilie Bolojan said on Friday during joint statements with his Moldovan counterpart Alexandru Munteanu.

The interim prime minister mentioned the immediate plan related to ensuring security at Romania's eastern borders.

'And I have agreed with the Ministry of Defence to take all steps to request the transfer of military technologies that we do not have today, which relate to air defence capabilities, to radars that can scan at low altitudes, so that we have at our disposal military equipment which takes into account what is happening in today's wars and the new techniques related to drones,' Bolojan explained.

He also mentioned the completion of the government plan for implementing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme.

'These days Romania is signing all the contracts for the supply, in the coming years, by 2030 at the latest, of all the defence capabilities requested by the Romanian Army, valued at around 10 billion euros, which will equip the army in the coming years in order to provide security for our citizens,' Bolojan said.

The interim prime minister criticised the lack of comprehensive legislation on anti-drone defence, attributing it to 'irresponsible actions' in the political sphere, related to 'challenging the legislation on targeting drones in peacetime airspace.'

'It passed with great delay due to challenges. I ask you to think about the challenges that have been submitted in recent days to the CCR [the Constitutional Court of Romania] regarding the SAFE legislation. And despite all this, during this entire period we did what was necessary to equip the Romanian Army with military equipment that allows it to ensure the safety of our citizens,' Bolojan said.

The interim prime minister also stated that he will return to Bucharest on Friday afternoon.

'I will attend the next two meetings and immediately after they are completed I will return to Bucharest,' Bolojan said.

A drone used in attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine crashed in Galati county, causing a fire on the roof of an apartment block and slightly injuring two people. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Rodica State)