Kaja Kallas condemns Russian attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea and discusses regional security with the Romanian Foreign Minister

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed drone attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea with Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculăescu, as well as their impact on regional security and global food supplies. The discussion took place after Friday’s attack on a commercial vessel approximately 13 nautical miles from Constanța.

Kallas condemned the Russian attacks, calling them unjustifiable, and said the incident, which resulted in casualties, represented a new escalation. “We remain in close contact,” she said in a message posted on X.

Dan Neculăescu said the deadly attack represented a blatant violation of international law and freedom of navigation. The minister warned that Russia’s war against Ukraine directly affects commercial shipping in the Black Sea and poses a threat to regional and global security.

A major rescue operation was launched following the attack. Nine sailors were rescued, three are missing and one died. The vessel, sailing under the flag of the Comoros Islands, suffered major damage and capsized, with a risk of sinking outside Romania’s territorial waters.