Outrage as leading Romanian presidential candidate calls Ukraine ‘a fictional state’

Georgescu is acting according to the Kremlin disinformation playbook. Not only is he repeating the popular Russian fake that Ukraine is not a real country, he is reinforcing the narrative that Eastern EU members are planning to overtake Ukrainian territories,

Gerashchenko said

Romanian politician Calin Georgescu's statements, which question the territorial integrity of our state, represent extreme disrespect for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We consider categorically unacceptable and condemn revisionist statements or actions that encroach on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, contradict international norms, the UN Charter, as well as basic democratic values."

Responding to Georgescu's comments, Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement

RO MFA strongly reiterates steadfast position in support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. This position is clear and rooted in international law, national interest and a long lasting values-based foreign policy."

In a statement on X, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote

The world is changing. Borders will change.... If borders change, where are we? We have an interest in Northern Bukovina. We have Budjak, we have Northern Maramures, the former Transcarpathia.... There are still Hungarians."

In reference to Romania's borders, Georgescu added

Against the backdrop of such remarks, Călin Georgescu's attempts to position himself as an 'independent' politician look preposterous: the points he makes are completely identical to those of Russian propaganda, which indicates complete dependence on his masters in Moscow,

the Foreign Ministry stressed

We remind you that such a development does not align with the goals of the Kremlin and its puppets,

the Foreign Ministry stated

One hundred per cent, it will happen. Well, they have no other way! The path to something like this is inevitable. Ukraine is a fictitious state. It is the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,

Georgescu said