Premier Expresses Solidarity with Romania Following Naval Drone Explosion

Bratislava, 5 June (TASR) - I express solidarity with Romania following the explosion of a naval drone in the Black Sea port of Constanta on Friday, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated at a press briefing in Montenegro, where the EU-Western Balkans summit is taking place, warning that such an incident could trigger World War III. The premier also called for dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fico noted that he doesn't have sufficient information about the incident in Romania. "We're probably witnessing another stray drone, whether intentionally or unintentionally," he stated, adding that he won't accuse anyone, but that it's very dangerous. "Imagine if such a drone flew into a residential building in a country that is a member state of NATO and the European Union, causing widespread injuries, perhaps even deaths. After all, this could truly be the start of World War III," he remarked. According to him, it is therefore necessary to engage in dialogue, and someone must start talking to Putin. "I don't care whether it's a delegation of European Union leaders, or the chancellor or president of a powerful country, but we have to start talking. Because if five or six more incidents like this happen, we'll suddenly find ourselves in a world war," he declared. A naval drone used in the war in Ukraine exploded at sea near the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta on Friday. The blast damaged an industrial hall belonging to a private company. No casualties or injuries have been reported. The authorities are checking whether there are other similar devices in the vicinity of the site of the explosion. The incident occurred a week after a residential building in the Romanian city of Galati, located near the border with Ukraine, was struck by a Russian drone, according to Bucharest. am/df