Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reached out to Romanian leader Nicolae Ciucă following an incident where a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați on May 29. The two leaders agreed that Ukrainian specialists would assist in bolstering Romania’s air defense capabilities.
“We agreed with Nicolae that Ukraine will support Romania in this situation — our teams, our military, our specialists will work to strengthen air defense,” Zelensky stated during his evening address.
He noted that Ukrainian military personnel had already been in contact with their Romanian counterparts, and discussions about further cooperation were underway.
Context: The drone crash in Galați resulted in a fire and left two individuals injured. Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia, leading to the summoning of the Russian ambassador and the declaration of the Russian consul in Constanța as a persona non grata. Romania is also considering consultations with NATO allies under Article 4.
Ukraine Responds to Polish Outrage Over Naming of Military Unit
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has addressed the backlash from Polish officials regarding President Zelensky’s decision to honor the Separate Special Operations Center “North” with the title of “Heroes of the UPA.” Spokesperson Georgiy Tikhy commented on the situation during a press briefing.
“We see a strong reaction in Poland to the decision to name one of the Ukrainian units after the UPA heroes. It is unfortunate that this occurs against the backdrop of broader efforts to resolve sensitive issues in Ukrainian-Polish relations,” he said.
Tikhy emphasized that for Ukrainian soldiers, the UPA symbolizes resistance against imperial policies from Moscow and that the decision was not intended to provoke Poland.
He reassured that Ukraine is open to discussions about sensitive historical matters and is willing to engage constructively with Poland regarding exhumations and historical dialogue without politicization.
Context: On May 26, Zelensky issued a decree granting the honorary name to the unit, which sparked outrage in Poland. The Polish Institute of National Remembrance criticized the UPA for its role in the “Volhynian genocide,” and former Polish President Lech Wałęsa condemned the decision, suggesting that Zelensky should be stripped of Poland’s highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle.
Estonian Defense Official: Mandatory Military Service for Women Inevitable
A statement from Anu Rannaveski, head of Estonia’s Defense Resources Agency, indicated that the introduction of mandatory military service for women is only a matter of time, as the country will face a shortage of men for military duties in the future. She made these remarks during an interview on Vikerraadio.
Rannaveski pointed out that while Estonia used to see up to 15,000 boys born annually, that number has now dwindled to 4,000-5,000.
“By 2040, the issue will become very pronounced — we won’t be able to recruit 4,100 individuals,” she warned.
She mentioned that for the next 14 years, the country could still rely on young men, but that time is limited.
Rannaveski was responding to a proposal from former Supreme Court head Rait Maruste to make military service compulsory for women, noting that many modern defense roles do not require physical strength.
Support for the idea of conscripting women was echoed by Karin Madisson from the Defense League, who argued that while physical requirements are currently too high, women could serve in logistical and medical roles. Retired military officer Leo Kunnas believes Estonia can manage without conscripting women for now, but acknowledges it may be necessary in the long run.
Poland First in EU to Receive Funding Under SAFE Defense Program
Poland has become the first EU country to receive funding through the SAFE defense credit program, securing €6.6 billion, which accounts for 15% of the total allocated amount. This information was reported by Euractiv.
The total funding earmarked for Poland amounts to €43.7 billion, the largest share among 19 nations that applied for access to the €150 billion program last year.
“Europe must be prepared for any scenario and act under any circumstances,” stated European Commissioner for Technology and Security, Henna Virkkunen, in light of the recent drone incident in Galați.
So far, five countries have signed credit agreements with the European Commission: Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania, and Belgium. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on May 28 that Poland would finalize 40 contracts worth 100 billion zloty (€23.6 billion) by May 30.
Context: In March 2025, the European Commission proposed the creation of SAFE, a €150 billion EU financial instrument aimed at promoting joint defense production, including ammunition, drones, and air defense systems. The program provides loans to EU member states and partners, including Ukraine.
Leaders of EAEU Demand Referendum in Armenia on EU Membership
Leaders from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have urged Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum to determine the country’s intentions regarding EU membership versus maintaining its position in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This statement was published on the Kremlin’s website following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, signed by Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Sadyr Japarov.
The signatories expressed concerns that Armenia’s preparations for EU accession pose “significant risks” to the economic security of EAEU countries. Putin reiterated that the situation in Armenia resembles the circumstances in Ukraine prior to the “crisis.”
“The crisis in Ukraine began with attempts to join the EU. We were not opposed to that,” he remarked.
Putin also warned that Armenia could lose 14% of its GDP if Moscow withdraws energy subsidies, and that Armenian citizens would need to acquire work permits to work in Russia. Additionally, Armenia would forfeit access to the “large and developed market of the EAEU,” and Russia might restrict the import of Armenian agricultural products.
Context: On January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a bill to initiate the country’s EU accession process, which was supported by parliament in February and signed into law by President Vahagn Khachaturyan in April. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has emphasized that this does not equate to EU membership, as discussions on a roadmap and a referendum are required under Armenian law.
Ukraine is stepping up its defense collaboration with Romania following a drone incident, while tensions with Poland arise over military honorifics. Estonia anticipates a future need for women's conscription, and Poland leads EU funding efforts under the SAFE program. Meanwhile, EAEU leaders are pressing Armenia for a referendum on EU membership.