Zelenskyy's plane 'almost hit' by drone; Trump says Putin wants Ukraine deal
A flight carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced conflicting reports regarding a drone near-miss during takeoff from Moldova, coinciding with new US claims about peace talks.
A routine diplomatic journey took a dramatic turn when a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was allegedly nearly struck by a drone during takeoff, prompting conflicting accounts from European capitals even as high-level discussions over European air defense and potential peace negotiations accelerated.
The incident was first made public on Wednesday by Sbs, Al Jazeera, and other outlets reporting on comments made by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Støre stated that the aircraft carrying Zelenskyy from Moldova to Oslo was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off. Støre did not identify his source or specify how close the drone came to the aircraft, noting only that it highlighted the constant danger surrounding the Ukrainian leader.
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However, officials in Kyiv immediately pushed back against the gravity of the claim. According to reporting by SBS and CBS News, a source in the Ukrainian presidency described the report that Zelenskyy was directly at risk as exaggerated. The source explained that the disruption was simply an airspace alert triggered when a Russian drone crossed into Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
Moldovan government spokespersons confirmed that airspace over the central part of the country was temporarily closed on Tuesday afternoon just after 4:30 pm local time. Flight restrictions delayed several departures and arrivals at Chisinau International Airport. Moldovan authorities later confirmed that the Shahed-type drone came down and exploded roughly 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport, after which flight restrictions were lifted and Zelenskyy's plane took off later than scheduled.
Independent tracking and official institutional reports detailed the wider regional impact of the aerial incursions. According to the Institute for the Study of War cited by DW, a Russian drone flew across Moldovan and Romanian airspace for about an hour on Tuesday before crashing.
| Official Source / Institution | Reported Aircraft Incident Account | Corroborating Regional Incursion Details |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre | Zelenskyy's plane was almost hit by a drone during takeoff from Moldova. | None provided regarding specific flight paths or distances. |
| Ukrainian Presidency Source | Claims of a direct threat to Zelenskyy were exaggerated; it was a standard airspace alert. | Acknowledged Russian drone activity entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace. |
| Moldovan Government & Defense Ministry | Flight departure was delayed due to temporary airspace closure. | Tracked a Shahed-type drone crossing central Moldova before crashing in an agricultural field. |
Despite the tense travel conditions, Zelenskyy arrived safely in Oslo on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of Norway's King Harald V, who passed away on August 28 at the age of 89. Zelenskyy joined international dignitaries, including foreign political leaders and royalty, for Wednesday's funeral service at Oslo Cathedral and the subsequent procession to Akershus Castle Church.
Alongside the funeral proceedings, Zelenskyy held extensive bilateral talks with Støre, Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Discussions focused heavily on military assistance, civilian aid, and closing critical gaps in Ukraine's air defense network. Støre and Zelenskyy also met with executives from major European defense manufacturers—including Kongsberg, Saab, Diehl Defence, Thales, and Leonardo—to advance the FREYJA European anti-ballistic defense system initiative, aimed at establishing independent manufacturing capabilities for interceptor systems.
The near-miss reports unfolded concurrently with major diplomatic developments concerning the broader trajectory of the war, now in its fourth year. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday, before boarding Air Force One for Dallas, that he had a great phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the week. According to SBS, Trump asserted that Putin wants to reach a deal to end the conflict.
"He is wanting to make a deal, and if Zelenskyy is wanting to make a deal, that'd be very nice," Trump said, adding that the primary obstacle remains mutual animosity between the two leaders. The phone call followed a diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv by US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as a visit to Moscow last month by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Despite these high-level diplomatic pushes, intelligence officials across the US, Ukraine, and Europe continue to express deep skepticism regarding Putin's genuine willingness to halt the invasion.
What to Watch Next
- Future updates from European defense meetings regarding the practical production timeline and operational deployment of the FREYJA anti-ballistic system.
- Any further investigative disclosures from aviation authorities or Moldovan officials regarding the precise flight trajectory of the drone involved in Tuesday's airspace closure.
- Ongoing international diplomatic maneuvers led by US envoys and regional partners aimed at exploring formal peace proposals between Kyiv and Moscow.
- Zelenskyy's subsequent diplomatic engagements following his departure from Norway for scheduled talks with Canadian leaders in Ottawa.
