Camilla Jessen
In a new state-produced documentary, Vladimir Putin claims Romania and Bulgaria helped spark the Ukraine war.
Three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin is blaming Romania and Bulgaria for escalating tensions in the region.
The claim comes from a new propaganda documentary titled “Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 Years”, broadcast by Russian state network Rossiya-1.
According to Romanian media outlet Digi24, the 90-minute film attempts to reframe key moments from Putin’s rule, portraying Western countries as aggressors and defending Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“They Didn’t Listen”
The film includes archived footage of Putin accusing the West of ignoring Russia’s concerns about NATO’s expansion.
In one segment, originally recorded during a speech attended by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin warns of the U.S. deploying so-called “light forward bases” in Romania and Bulgaria.
“They are deploying their forces at our state borders… We have every right to ask: against whom is this expansion?” Putin says, as cited by Russian media Meduza.
He continues: “Russia will either be independent and sovereign, or it will cease to exist at all.”
Putin adds in a follow-up interview recorded in 2025:
This was the message I wanted to send… But we were not listened to. That led to today’s tragic events in Ukraine.
A Familiar Narrative
The documentary repeats long-standing Kremlin talking points, suggesting that the West — particularly NATO and the U.S. — provoked the conflict by expanding military presence near Russia’s borders.
The presence of American forces in Romania and Bulgaria has long been a point of tension, though Western officials have emphasized these deployments are defensive in nature and fully aligned with NATO commitments.
Putin uses the film to justify not only the annexation of Crimea in 2014 but also the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, portraying Russia as the victim of encroachment and ideological pressure.
Throughout the documentary, Putin attacks what he calls “Western values”, signals his intent to remain in power, and muses about his possible successor — without offering any clear indication of who that might be.
He also mentions nuclear weapons, stating that he “hopes” he will never have to use them, but doesn’t rule out the possibility.
The film appears aimed at a domestic audience.
Meanwhile, Romania and Bulgaria — both NATO and EU members — have not responded directly to Putin’s latest comments, but both countries have consistently condemned the invasion of Ukraine and supported Kyiv with aid and defense coordination through NATO.