Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Romania of escalating the conflict in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted, stating that the Kremlin leader is using the same well-known narratives that served as a pretext for the brutal annexation war.
Three years after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Romania is to blame for the escalation of the conflict.
The Kremlin leader states in the propaganda documentary "Russia. The Kremlin. Putin. 25 years" that Romania and Bulgaria have contributed to the tensions that led to the war in Ukraine by accepting American bases on their territories.
The documentary broadcasted by the state TV channel Rossiya-1 includes archive footage of a speech by Putin attended by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "They are deploying their forces at our state borders. In Bulgaria and Romania, so-called light advanced American bases have appeared, one in each country. And we have every right to openly ask: against whom is this expansion taking place?" Putin said in 2007.
Russian President then explains the statements he made in the presented speech: "This is the message I wanted to convey to our partners and colleagues, hoping they would listen to us and correct their attitude towards Russia. But, unfortunately, we were not listened to. I mean, they heard, but did not react properly. Ultimately, this led to the tragic events in Ukraine today."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania reacted, stating in a press release that Vladimir Putin is using the same well-known ideas that served as a pretext for a brutal annexation war.
"Romania's accession to NATO represents the sovereign will of the Romanian citizens and the Allied nations. At the same time, Romania's NATO membership does not pose a security threat to anyone. This is concrete and demonstrable. President Putin is using the same well-known narratives that served as a pretext for a brutal annexation war.
The only country threatening regional security in Europe is the Russian Federation through the illegal and unprovoked war marked by numerous war crimes against the civilian population in Ukraine and accompanied by a Russian campaign of disinformation and anti-EU and NATO propaganda.
Romania will continue to defend its security interests in full sovereignty in its dual capacity as a NATO Ally and EU member state," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed.