Putin accuses Romania, Bulgaria of contributing to Ukraine war

He made the statement in a propaganda film, saying that the placement of advanced American military bases in Romania and Bulgaria had led to the war.

In the film titled "Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 Years," which was broadcast on Russian propaganda channels, Putin is shown stating that "the deployment of light forward American bases in Romania and Bulgaria led to the war in Ukraine."

"In Bulgaria and Romania, so-called light forward American bases are appearing, one in each country. And we have every right to openly ask: who is this expansion against?" said Putin.

In his modern-day comments, Putin explained that the speech was intended for his partners "in hopes that they would hear us and adjust their attitude towards Russia."

"But unfortunately, they didn’t hear us. They heard, but didn’t react properly. Ultimately, this led to the tragic events in Ukraine today," Putin stated.

Romania's reaction

Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Andrei Tarnea responded to the remarks, stating that "Romania's NATO membership reflects the sovereign will of the Romanian people and allied countries."

"At the same time, Romania's NATO membership does not pose a threat to anyone," he added.

"Putin uses the same familiar narratives that served as the pretext for the brutal war. The only country threatening regional security in Europe is the Russian Federation with its illegal and unprovoked war, accompanied by numerous war crimes against Ukrainian civilians, as well as the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign against the EU and NATO," the diplomat continued.

Journalists noted that besides the statement about Romania, Putin in the film justifies the 2014 occupation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He also attacks Western values, contemplates who might succeed him, and allegedly expresses hope that he won’t have to use nuclear weapons.

• Putin proposed a three-day "ceasefire" in Ukraine for the Moscow Victory Day parade on May 9.