This is a clear expansion of the war by Russia: Zelensky

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has once again raised the alarm about the expansion of Russian aggression, emphasizing that Russia is gradually trying to extend the war into the territories of other countries.

“Today, Romania has dispatched combat aircraft due to a Russian drone. The drone penetrated Romanian territory about 10 kilometers deep and operated in the airspace of a NATO member state for nearly 50 minutes. Poland has also reacted today by putting its military systems on alert due to the threat of Russian combat drones,” Zelensky stated.

According to the Ukrainian president, Russian drones have been recorded throughout various regions of Ukraine throughout the day, including in northern areas along the border with Belarus. Preliminary data indicates that some drones have violated Ukrainian airspace, utilizing Belarusian airspace, particularly in the Volyn direction.

“Russian military personnel are well aware of where they are sending their drones and how long they can remain airborne. These flight paths are always calculated. This is not a coincidence. It cannot be a mistake or the improvisation of low-ranking commanders. This is a clear expansion of the war by Russia,” he added.

He noted that Russia acts in “small steps, which lead to significant losses.” Therefore, according to him, the response must be preventive.

“We need to act deliberately and preventively based on the simple principle that there are no insignificant military threats from those who are accustomed to destroying the independence and lives of others. Russia must feel the consequences. This applies to both sanctions and economic tariffs. Ukraine has proposed to its partners to create a joint defense system, so as not to wait until dozens of ‘Shaheds’ or ballistic missiles fall before making decisions,” concluded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.