Foreign Affairs Ministry, after Putin’s statements: falsely suggesting that Romania has territorial claims over Ukraine / Russian President: large territories in Romania, in Hungary, have been taken (…) Russia can be the only real guarantor of Ukrainian statehood and sovereignty

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects the assertions made by the President of the Russian Federation in his speech on the occasion of the National Unity Day, which falsely induces the idea that Romania has territorial claims towards Ukraine, reads a statement sent to G4Media.ro

MAE stresses that the war of aggression unleashed by Russia on 24 February is a serious and brutal violation of the principles of international law, including Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In this context, Romania reaffirms its firm support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, the statement added.

Background

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, on the occasion of National Unity Day, that the West has deliberately distorted the truth about World War II and the role of the Soviet Union in the victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin leader also accused Romania and Poland of wanting territory from Ukraine.

„We know about the ideas of politicians in Poland to make a country ‘from one sea to another sea’, before World War II there was a lot of talk about that. It was a fixed idea. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. We see now that Polish and Ukrainian officials are taking each other to task, but this idea is alive. And the idea of absorbing Ukraine is still there. Just as there is certainly talk of returning those territories that were taken from Poland, we have to recognise that they were taken by Stalin after the Second World War. Large territories in Romania, in Hungary, were taken. It is no coincidence that I said in Valdai that Russia can be the only real guarantor of Ukrainian statehood and sovereignty,” Putin said.