Lavrov declines to directly answer question on alleged Russian targeting of Romanian base

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declined to directly answer a question about allegations that Russia had targeted a military base in Romania, responding instead with a lighthearted, noncommittal remark, according to a report from TASS.

The report did not detail the specific allegations regarding the Romanian base, including when the alleged targeting was said to have occurred or which officials or outlets first raised the claim. It also did not specify the exact context in which the question was posed to Lavrov.

Romania, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, has periodically reported drone incursions and other incidents near its territory linked to the war in Ukraine, prompting concern among NATO allies about the potential for the conflict to spill over into alliance territory. Russia has generally denied deliberately targeting NATO member states.

Lavrov's evasive response leaves the underlying allegation neither confirmed nor denied, a pattern consistent with the general approach of Russian officials to questions about military activity near NATO's eastern flank.

Neither the Romanian government nor NATO issued an immediate public statement responding to Lavrov's remarks, according to the available reporting.