"Russia is ready to conduct an objective investigation into the drone that crashed in Romania," Vladimir Putin said as he spoke about the incident that has increased tensions between his country and NATO.

He even dismissed European accusations that it was a Russian drone. “Who says it’s a Russian drone? A lot. A lot means anyone. Who exactly? Names. Ursula von der Leyen. Well, she didn’t go to Romania, she didn’t conduct an investigation. She didn’t examine the wreckage of the drone,” Putin said.

He also said that Ukrainian drones had previously flown over Finland, Poland and the Baltic states.

Asked by Russian media about the incident, the Russian president said that if the drone is handed over, they will conduct an objective investigation and only then will we assess what happened.