RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Romania and the Situation in Ukraine

Romanian President Traian Basescu calls on EU to impose harsher sanctions on Russia.

Romania and the Situation in Ukraine
Romania and the Situation in Ukraine

, 22.07.2014, 13:33

A hybrid war — this is how President Traian Basescu has described the conflict in eastern Ukraine, not far from the border with Romania. The Romanian head of state believes Russia is waging a proxy war, using Chechen, Cossack and Trandniestrian separatists deployed in the area to support the pro-Russian rebel militias. At the same time, it is also a form of guerilla and information warfare, to which the pro-Russian separatists have just added acts of terrorism.



Responsibility for the latest developments, the Romanian President argues, lies with the separatists, but also with Moscow, which has given them political support, military personnel and equipment, including heavy weaponry. The President’s criticism comes as the international community is going at great lengths to shed light on the circumstances of last week’s crash of a Malaysia Airlines passenger flight that killed all 298 people onboard. Who is responsible for this attack?



Traian Basescu: “Based on an analysis and the intelligence we have at present, we believe the terrorist group in Eastern Ukraine is directly responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airlines plane. The Russian Federation has provided the rebels with specialists and equipment to carry out the strike, and therefore is equally responsible. I have heard president Putin’s plea against politicizing this incident. No one is politicizing it, but president Putin cannot hide from this, shunning responsibility with lies and deferrals”.



In this context, can the European Union do more than it has already done? According to President Basescu, the answer is definitely yes.



Traian Basescu: “Sanctions should have been applied a long time ago. There should have been harsher economic sanctions to dissuade the Russian Federation from fuelling the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Of course, there have always been arguments against such measures: one country may have large investments there, another country may be supplying them with state-of-the-art equipment. Some may rely on Russian energy exports, while others simply try to be on good terms with both the EU and the Russian Federation, and simply try to stay out of it. Of course, the economic aspects are extremely important. But the European Union is all about values, and our greatest value is the European citizen and his safety”.



The more the EU delays imposing harsher sanctions on Russia, the higher the price Europe will pay for not putting an end to Vladimir Putin’s ambition to rebuild the former Soviet Union, President Traian Basescu concluded.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Source: NATO)
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company