Flanked by senior police and army officials, the Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa is just giving a brief update after this morning’s crisis cabinet meeting in Riga.
She says there is still no clarity on who directed the drones reported in the Latvian airspace, and this continues to be investigated.
She sticks to key lines that as she stresses that the incident is a consequence of Russia’s continuing war on Ukraine, and Latvia needs to be prepared for similar situations as it continues to support Ukraine.
She also warns about any disinformation attempts coming from Russia in response to the incident.
Siliņa also talks about some practical concerns about the way Latvia’s emergency alert system worked last night.
Key events
Romania reports brief breach of its airspace by Russian drone attacking Ukraine last night
Meanwhile, Romania has just reported a brief violation of its airspace by drones taking part in a Russian attack on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine last night.
The drone was monitored by two F-16 patrolling aircraft and tracked as it crossed into Romania’s airspace in the Chilia area, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement.
The ministry “firmly condemned the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation, which contravene the norms of international law and pose risks to regional security and stability in the Black Sea.”
Flanked by senior police and army officials, the Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa is just giving a brief update after this morning’s crisis cabinet meeting in Riga.
She says there is still no clarity on who directed the drones reported in the Latvian airspace, and this continues to be investigated.
She sticks to key lines that as she stresses that the incident is a consequence of Russia’s continuing war on Ukraine, and Latvia needs to be prepared for similar situations as it continues to support Ukraine.
She also warns about any disinformation attempts coming from Russia in response to the incident.
Siliņa also talks about some practical concerns about the way Latvia’s emergency alert system worked last night.
Lisa O’Carroll
Meanwhile, the European Parliament has said it will work “expeditiously” to ensure the “spirit and the letter” of the EU’s trade deal with Donald Trump is sealed, after representatives failed to reach a deal in ratification talks with member states last night.
No deal is expected now until 19 May when talks with MEPs resume.
A timetable in Europe’s democratic process risks invoking the ire of Trump who on Friday said he would increase car tariffs from 15% to 25% because the EU were taking to long to implement its side of the Turnberry deal.
The parliamentary delegation in the so-called “trilogue” talks which also involved the European Commission were led by MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the trade committee.
Lange said in a statement last night:
“We have just concluded a constructive second trilogue during which we made good progress on the issue of the safeguard mechanism and the review and evaluation of the main regulation, but there is still some way to go.
We will continue to work expeditiously and responsibly on the two legislative proposals to ensure that the letter and the spirit of the Turnberry Deal are honoured, in full respect of our democratic norms, procedures and timelines. The next trilogue will take place on 19 May in Strasbourg.
We remain more committed than ever to advance and defend Parliament’s mandate so as to provide additional guarantees that will benefit citizens and companies in both the EU and the US.”
The 19 May date for next talks will be seen as a positive step however as yesterday Lange’s team were expecting the next date could be as far away as June.
Lange’s committee were looking for three key amendments to the deal hashed out at Trump’s golf course last July.
Jakub Krupa
We should get more on the Latvian incident before long, as we are expecting to hear from the government after this morning’s emergency cabinet meeting.
Crucially, the crash site of the second drone reported within Latvian airspace is yet to be discovered, so let’s see if we hear more on this.
I will keep an eye on this.
Morning opening: Latvia investigates drones ‘from Russia’ after overnight airspace violations
Latvia is investigating two drones which entered its airspace from Russian territory overnight and crashed in eastern part of the country near an empty oil storage facility.
Four empty oil tanks were reported damaged, with minor smouldering reported in one of the tanks. The local public broadcaster captured a drone flying in the area on their camera.
Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa convened a crisis management meeting for 10am local time. She earlier said she was “in constant communication” with relevant ministers and state institutions.
“After the incident concludes, I expect reports from the responsible ministers on what happened,” she said.
The investigation is still in very early stages, but the drones might have been Ukrainian units that lost their way due to signal jamming, defence minister Andris Sprūds said.
This would not be the first time that a lost Ukrainian drone attacking Russia’s oil terminals loses its way and ends up in a neighbouring Nato country, with similar incidents involving Estonia and Lithuania.
“As long as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine continues, the recurrence of such incidents when a foreign unmanned aircraft enters or approaches Latvian airspace is possible,” the Latvian army said in a statement.
The air warning in the country has now been lifted, but some flight restrictions remain in place.
Elsewhere, I will also keep an eye at US secretary of state Marco Rubio’s visit to see Pope Leo in the Vatican amid a bitter war of words between the US president, Donald Trump, and the pontiff. Before that, Leo – who will mark one year in office tomorrow – will also meet with Poland’s Donald Tusk.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar is also expected nearby, as he is due to meet with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, formerly a close ally of Magyar’s arch-rival Viktor Orbán.
Elsewhere, I am expecting some developments in Bulgaria with Rumen Radev likely to be asked to form the next government, and obviously will continue keeping tabs on the hantavirus-hit cruise that electrified the public opinion worldwide.
Lots to cover.
It’s Thursday, 7 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
