Gheorghiță Vlad issued a stark warning about the state of the nation’s army, calling for immediate action.
Romania isn’t prepared for a potential war with Russia and it needs to brace, the country’s defense chief said.
Gheorghiță Vlad, chief of defense of Romania, said, “Yes, the population of Romania, like the entire population of the European Union, of Europe, must be concerned,” in an interview with Europa Liberă România published Thursday.
“If he wins in Ukraine, the main target will be the Republic of Moldova. We will witness tensions in the Western Balkans,” the Romanian general added. “I am more than convinced that President Putin’s policy will escalate in the near future.”
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Romania isn’t prepared for a potential war with Russia and it needs to brace, the country’s defense chief said.
The general noted the end of compulsory military service in Romania as a reason for a shortfall in the army’s readiness.
Debris from one of the Kremlin’s drones fell in Romania last September and the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) could not be shot down because Romanian law does not allow this, the general said.
His broad call to action echoed similar recent warnings from other Western military and defense leaders, including the U.K.’s army chief General Patrick Sanders.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this week called statements that Russia won’t stop in Ukraine “absurd.”
“NATO is an instrument of confrontation,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoing long-term Russian rhetoric, adding that Moscow considers the alliance’s military exercises as a threat.
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