Russia warns that “the use of F-16 tactical fighter jets from the territory” of Romania, Slovakia and Poland “will be viewed by Moscow as the participation of these countries in the conflict in Ukraine and will force Russia to take appropriate measures,” reports News.ro.

Recently, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that “given the destruction of a significant part of the airfield infrastructure on the territory of Ukraine, there is a high probability that tactical combat F-16 aircraft, transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by NATO member states, will fly from air bases in Poland, Slovakia and Romania”.

Today, on December 13, during the OSCE plenary meeting, the head of the Russian delegation in Vienna for military security and arms control, Konstantin Gavrilov, stated that Russia strongly warns that “the use of F-16 tactical fighters on the territory of the State, mentioned above, will be considered by Moscow as the participation of these countries in the conflict in Ukraine and will force Russia to take appropriate measures,” the embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest said in a statement.

Romania opened a European training center for piloting F-16 aircraft last month at the 86 Fetești Air Base. It will train Romanian pilots to operate the F-16 aircraft, which will enter service with the Romanian Air Force, as well as pilots from the air forces of allies and partners, including Ukraine.

The website of the Russian Foreign Ministry published a speech by Ambassador Konstantin Gavrilov to the OSCE on Wednesday, in which he repeated Moscow’s attacks on the United States and the West, which are increasingly present in the Kremlin leader’s propaganda speeches, according to which the West is an existential threat. to Russia

“The United States and its satellites continue to pose a threat to the security of our western borders. The aggressive nature of their policy is no longer hidden behind the formulation of exclusively defensive military doctrines. In the national and coalition doctrines of the NATO states, claims for global and regional dominance, which must be obtained through the use of military force, are increasing,” Kostiantyn Gavrilov said.

“I have already heard comments according to which, in conditions of significant destruction of the structure of Ukrainian airfields, F-16 tactical fighters handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces can take off from air bases in Poland, Romania and Slovakia. . We strongly warn that the use of these fighter jets from the territory of these NATO member states will be perceived by Moscow as their participation in the conflict in Ukraine and will force Russia to take measures in response,” the Russian diplomat continued.

“It has come to the point that the United States has already begun to openly manipulate the topic of confrontation between the armies of two nuclear states. How, in your opinion, should international security be ensured?”, the Russian ambassador asked rhetorically, touching on the topic of the nuclear threat, which Moscow periodically resorts to.

Gavrilov repeated in the OSCE the recently expressed position of Vladimir Putin that Ukraine should no longer exist as a state: “The cold-blooded involvement of the EU and NATO countries in the events in Ukraine did not bring the desired results to the Kyiv regime, but only enriched it.” the American military-industrial complex. As Russian President Vladimir Putin stated: “Ukraine does not have its own base, ideology, industry and money, which means it has no future.”

This is a consequence of the bloodshed provoked by the West ten years ago, and then Kyiv’s refusal to negotiate, imposed by its Anglo-Saxon manipulators. But when the Western puppeteers wake up from their military madness, they must realize that a comprehensive solution to the conflict in Ukraine depends on eliminating its root causes,” said Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security. and arms control.

Russia closes the Romanian consulate in Rostov-on-Don

It will be recalled that Russia is closing the Romanian consulate in Rostov-on-Don after the Russian government accepted the proposal of the Russian Foreign Ministry to denounce the agreement on the opening of the consulate.

“According to Article 37 of the Federal Law “On International Treaties of the Russian Federation” to accept the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia to denounce the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Romania on the opening of the Consulate General of Romania in Rostov-on-Don dated September 22, 2005,” the document reads. , published on the official Internet portal of legal information.

The decision of the Government to open the Consulate General was made in 2004, when Adrian Nestase was the Prime Minister and provided for 5 positions: 1. Consul General; 2. consul; 3. consular official; 4. typist-accountant secretary and 5. senior driver.

Moscow’s decision comes amid heightened tensions between Romania and Russia after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and Bucharest strongly condemned the Russian aggression.

On June 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania announced the decision of the Bucharest authorities to reduce the diplomatic and technical-administrative staff of the Russian Federation in Romania by limiting their numbers to a level close to diplomatic and technical-administrative staff. Representation of Romania in the Russian Federation. Thus, the total number of diplomatic and technical-administrative positions of the Russian Federation in Romania was reduced by 61%, and the effective number of personnel – by 55.5%, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.