• Eastern, Nordic NATO allies urge stronger air and missile defences
• They accuse Russia of repeated airspace violations
• Joint statement calls for boosting defence industry capacity
• Ukraine's Zelenskiy also attends Bucharest meeting, ​urges allied unity

Russia's repeated airspace violations of countries on the ‌eastern flank of NATO underline the urgent need to consolidate the alliance's air defences against missiles and drones, the leaders of 14 allies said on Wednesday.

They also called for greater cooperation in building up defence industry capacity in a ​joint statement, issued after a meeting of eastern flank allies in Bucharest hosted by Romania's ​President Nicusor Dan and Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

...

"We condemn Russia's highly confrontational actions ⁠against Allies and partners, including sabotage, cyberattacks, and a wide range of hybrid attacks and destabilising ​activities," the leaders' joint statement said.

"Repeated airspace violations on the Eastern Flank underscore the urgent need to ​continue strengthening NATO's air and missile defence, including against unmanned aerial vehicle threats."

Romania, Poland and Baltic states have had their airspace repeatedly breached by Russian drones. Russia has denied targeting NATO states.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, NATO Secretary General ​Mark Rutte and U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno were among ​those attending Wednesday's one-day gathering.

...