Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War believe that Russia is taking advantage of the increasingly loud claims of far-right European nationalist movements regarding the territory of Ukraine, citing recent statements by the political leaders of Romania and Hungary.

Russia appears to be fueling neo-imperialist and nationalist sentiments in Europe and using them to drive a wedge between Ukraine and its Western neighbors, ISW notes.

Far-right movements in Hungary and Romania caused concern last week after party leaders in those countries claimed their rights to parts of Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War drew attention to the statements of Claudio Tarzio on January 24 in Iasi.

Then the president of the National Council of AUR Management spoke about the unification of Romania with the Republic of Moldova, as well as with the territories that are now part of Ukraine.

Similar statements were made by far-right Hungarian leader László Torochkai, who said that Hungary should claim the Transcarpathian region if Ukraine loses the war with Russia.

Zakarpattia Oblast is the southwesternmost region in Ukraine and has significant Hungarian and Romanian ethnic minorities, The Kyiv Independent reports.

The historical region of Northern Bukovina is part of the Ukrainian region of present-day Chernivtsi Oblast, while Bessarabia encompasses Moldova and parts of Chernivtsi and Odesa Oblasts.

Russian sources reinforce reports from Romania and Hungary

Russian sources reinforced both statements, ISW reported, repeating Russia’s call for the “separation of Ukraine” made before the start of the war on February 22, 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also directly referred to various territorial claims put forward by irredentist movements in countries neighboring Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials revived this narrative in December 2023, arguing that Ukraine had historical “territorial disputes” with Poland, Romania and Hungary, but that it could retain its “sovereignty” if the entire country consisted of borders of the Lviv region

Russian officials have tried to encourage Poland to try to reclaim western Ukraine, a former Polish territory, but that sentiment has not gained much traction and is not supported by any major political party in Poland.

The Russian ultra-nationalist concept of “Русского мира” (Русский мир) appears to have gained traction among European nationalist factions as applied to their own nationalist ideologies, and actors in the Russian media space are likely to seek to exploit this ideological bent to drive a wedge between Ukraine and its European counterparts. neighbors, sums up ISW.

The far-right leader from Hungary wants Transcarpathia

László Torochkai, president and leader of the far-right parliamentary group Mi Hazánk (Motherland Movement) in Hungary, delivered a speech against the EU and globalization at the party’s annual congress on Sunday.

He declared that Ukraine was bought by the world’s largest investment fund, and said that if it loses the war, his country will claim the Zakarpattia region, Index.hu reports.

The former director of Romania’s intelligence service, Eduard Helwig, accused AUR senator Claudio Tarzia of “cynical playing with a hot topic” after a speech in Iași on Union Day when he said Romania “must be reunited” with Bessarabia, as well as territories that are now part of Ukraine.

The former head of the SRI said that the AUR leader cannot be categorized as a “useful idiot” and that he specifically chooses such potentially inflammatory topics, which are also used by far-right politicians in Hungary and, above all, whom “they like”. Vladimir Putin the most.”

Claudio Tarziou will be the candidate of AUR in the elections to the European Parliament

“However, there is an incredible trumpet that is still in tune with Mr. Tarzio. László Torocskaj, his colleague in Budapest, who happens to be declaring 24 hours later that Hungary should return territories to Ukraine,” Helvig said.

Helvig’s statements were made after Tarziu supported Romania’s union with the Republic of Moldova and Ukrainian territories on January 24 in Iasi.

• “We will not be truly sovereign until we reintegrate the Romanian state within its natural borders. Bessarabia must return home. Northern Bukovina cannot be forgotten, southern Bessarabia, Hertz, Transcarpathia, everything that was and is the Romanian nation must return to the state.
• This is an ideal that we must not forget. Moldova is famous. Stefan’s Moldova should be at home, in Romania,” the AUR leader argued, thus continuing the theme used by Senator Diana Shoshoeke, who also initiated a bill rejected by parliament that demanded the annexation of some territories from Ukraine.

In response, the AUR senator stated that “all guards and sneaks from the Besescu regime jumped like they were burned.”

• “He jumped out of the bathroom like a fool, and the former head of the DRI, who would rather eat his special pension in peace than get involved in politics again, because he did it in a dishonorable way before he joined the secret service, he did it’s villainous while running this secret service. Many people suffered innocently because of him because he had all kinds of political interests which he served along with some magistrates.
• (…) The statement he refers to regarding relations with Russia was made two years ago. It is entitled (…) “I don’t like dictators” and begins with the arguments by which I reject the dictatorial and bloody policies of Vladimir Putin and reject the imperialist policies that Russia has never abandoned.
• Yes, and in the context I say that, of course, it is desirable for any state to have good relations with all neighboring states, with all states of the world, if possible, but not under any conditions, but under those conditions in which disputes between them, under the conditions in which historical debts are paid. And here I repeat the historical debts that Russia has to Romania, and which must be resolved. First of all, the treasure, then the consequences of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and, no less important, the conflict in Transnistria. I say it directly. What does Helwig say he keeps? That I want relations with Russia as if I said that I want under any conditions and now. (…) By no means, sir, I said very clearly. (…),” Tarziu said.

Claudio Tarzio will be the AUR’s candidate in the European Parliament elections, a scenario discussed by the PNL and in the case of Hellwig, who resigned last summer from the leadership of the SRI, where he had been for eight years.

The PSD would get 29.5% of the vote, the PNL 18.8% and the AUR 18.4% if the European Parliament elections were held on Sunday, a poll conducted by INSCOP commissioned by News.ro showed on Tuesday.

The percentages are related to the number of those who expressed a preference for the party on the list, regardless of whether they say they will come to vote or not, and change in the case of those who say they will go to vote. single and who expressed a preference for the party from the list.

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