The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands a public retraction of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic's insulting statements and their non-repetition in the future. The Croatian ambassador has already been summoned to the diplomatic mission, and in addition the Ukrainian ambassador will also carry out a corresponding demarche in Zagreb, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
According to the diplomatic office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the Croatian ambassador to Ukraine Anica Jamich, which proved the position of the categorical unacceptability of today's statements of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic to the Ukrainian state.
"It was noted that Zoran Milanovic's statements about the events of the Revolution of Dignity insult the memory of Ukrainians and foreigners who gave their lives for the European future of Ukraine.
Deep disappointment was expressed with the Croatian President's statements about Ukraine's membership in NATO and inappropriateness of assistance to our state against the background of Russian aggression. It was stressed that the above is particularly dissonant with universal human values, given the bitter war experience of the Croatian people," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry noted that the Croatian president showed his disdain and ingratitude for the assistance that Ukraine and Ukrainians provided to Croatia during its struggle for independence, as well as in the fight against the devastating fires last year. But we are sure that this ingratitude is a personal trait of his and does not extend to the Croatian people, with whom we are united by friendship and mutual respect.
"Statements by Zoran Milanovic retransmit narratives of Russian propaganda, do not correspond to the consistent official position of Croatia in support of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, damage bilateral relations, and undermine EU and NATO unity in the face of current security threats in Europe. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands public refutation of these insulting statements by the President of Croatia and their non-repetition in the future. The Ukrainian ambassador will also carry out a corresponding demarche in Zagreb," the Foreign Ministry noted.
As a reminder, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that Ukraine does not belong in NATO and in case of escalation with Russia, Zagreb will distance itself from the events as much as possible.
