Romania's Foreign Ministry has called for the Ukrainian Ambassador to Bucharest to clarify statements made by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in which he referred to the region of Northern Bucovina being occupied by the Romanians.

Volodimir ZelenskiFoto: president.gov.ua
  • UPDATE The word "taken" was later used in the statement, instead of occupied. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Bucharest said in a Facebook post that the use of the word "occupied" was a translation error and that "taken should have been used" - a situation he regretted.

In an address on the Day of Unity of Ukraine, President Zelensky said, among others:

  • "(...) Soon UPR left Kyiv under pressure of the Bolsheviks, most of the territory of Galicia was taken by Polish troops. Northern Bukovyna was taken by Romanians, and Czechoslovakia took Zakarpattia.
  • It's been over a hundred years. Did we draw any conclusions from this story?
  • It teaches us a simple yet vital principle for Ukraine: only together are we strong. (...)"

Romania's Foreign Ministry said at the request of HotNews.ro that on Thursday a ministry official, state secretary Dan Neculaescu, talked to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Bucharest on a series of issues of bilateral interest. The ministry representative used the occasion to request clarifications on references made by the President of Ukraine in his speech, which "suprised" the Romanian part. He also underlined the necessity of a correct understanding of history, the ministry said.