Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reacts to Croatian president's statements on Crimea

The reaction to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic's pro-Russian rhetoric was posted on Facebook by Oleg Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I wonder whether Zoran Milanovic would have become president of his country with such rhetoric in the 1990s, when Croatia was struggling to preserve its statehood. Would his voters have agreed to turn a blind eye to the occupation of part of their country? I doubt it. I recall that due to external aggression Croatia could have lost a third of its lands. However, through a heroic struggle Croats managed to defend the independence of their state.

It is worth recalling that Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, known for his anti-Ukrainian statements, stated a day earlier that Crimea will never be Ukrainian territory again. Milanovic is famous for his love for Putin and has made more than one provocative statement since the full-scale war in Ukraine began.

The Foreign Ministry called such statements unacceptable. At the same time, Milanovic thanked Croats and the government for their support.