The statements came in reaction to comments made by Yuri Pilipson, director of the Second European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. During the same speech, the Russian official criticized Greece for offering support to Ukraine and said that the majority of Moldovans reject the prospect of unification with Romania. "Any Russian official speaking about the national identity of a country is in an obvious contradiction. Russia kills civilians every day, while denying the sovereignty and national identity of a neighbor. the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Bogdan Ţărnea, said on Monday, August 10, in reply, cited by Agerpres.