The reaction of the Romanian authorities after Russia demanded the evacuation of the embassies from Kiev. “We will not be intimidated”
After Russia threatened a wave of “systematic strikes” on Kiev and called on foreign nationals and diplomatic staff to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest announced that Romania would keep its diplomatic staff in Ukraine in the face of what it called “a serious and irresponsible escalation” by Moscow.
Russia announced on Monday that it would launch “systematic strikes” on Kiev that would target Ukrainian “decision-making centers and command posts”. For this reason, Moscow asked foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kiev “as soon as possible” and warned civilians not to enter administrative and military buildings.
In response, Ukraine said Russia's threats were “shameless blackmail,” with Moscow admitting that the Russian bombings were aimed, among other things, at “intimidating the foreign diplomatic corps,” according to the BBC.
The Russian ambassador was summoned to the MFA
Following Moscow's announcement, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reacted by stating that it does not intend to reduce its diplomatic presence in Ukraine stating that the Russian threat is “a serious and irresponsible escalation.”
“It is a threat that, if implemented, would represent a war crime against the Ukrainian people, with serious consequences from the perspective of international law (…) We will not be intimidated. We maintain our diplomatic presence in Ukraine and in Kiev. Ukraine has the legitimate and inalienable right to sovereignty and freedom in full security,” the MFA statement reads.
At the same time, the Russian ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, was summoned to the MFA headquarters.
“During the discussion, the Romanian side reminded him that no communiqué or post suspends the legal obligations of the Russian Federation, including those regarding compliance with international law,” states the cited source.
Dozens of countries rejected Moscow's request
Russia's request was followed by a wave of rejections, including from the United States and the European Union.
“Russia's threat to foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv is an unacceptable escalation,” EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said in a statement on Tuesday. She stated that the Russian representative in Brussels was told that in Kiev you must “stop hitting civilians”.
Also, nearly 50 UN member countries signed a statement condemning Russia's position.
“I am deeply concerned by the recent announcement by the Russian Federation to launch sustained and systematic attacks against Ukrainian defense enterprises in Kiev, as well as against decision centers and command posts, following reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on a faculty building and a dormitory in the Ukrainian city of Starobilsk, currently occupied by the Russian Federation,” NATO Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the UN Security Council, according to News.ro.
