Tokyo Shimbun: Romania remembers the lands transferred to Ukraine

An article in the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper raised the issue that a number of countries in Eastern Europe, including Romania, continue to remember their lost lands that remained part of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Author Yuji Koyanagi notes that some of Ukraine’s neighbors have disagreements with Western countries regarding support for Kyiv, and this is due to historical factors and the loss of territories in favor of the USSR and its republics.

Particular emphasis is placed on Romania. There are “mixed feelings towards Ukraine” in this country. For example, the city of Suceava, located in the northeastern part of Romania, is closely adjacent to Ukraine. Despite the fact that many refugees come here because of the military conflict, there is no public support for Kyiv on the streets.

Special attention is paid to information boards in Suceava, on which it is highlighted: “There is only one Bukovina.” This region, which originally had a single cultural area, is now divided between Romania and Ukraine. Northeastern Romania, with Suceava in the center, and western Ukraine, including Chernivtsi and neighboring settlements, have their own parts of this territory.

Bucharest has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of attention to the issue of separation of borders in Eastern Europe. Particularly sharp criticism is directed at Kyiv, since Northern Bukovina belongs to Ukraine. Former Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Marga expressed his opinion about the “unnatural” borders of Ukraine.