Romania is not and cannot be represented by politicians who proudly pose next to Putin today, said Foreign Minister Oana Toiu on Wednesday.

The statement from Romania's top diplomat comes after former Prime Ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila appeared in a recent group photograph alongside the Presidents of Russia and China.

'At home, they speak of patriotism, but a patriot would not fawn over an aggressor, certainly not just days after a Russian drone attacked a vessel only a few hundred metres from our border on the Danube, nor weeks after Russia bombed Ukrainian communities where Romanian is spoken,' Oana Toiu said.

According to the minister, the two former leaders attended the event in a private capacity and 'represent only themselves,' but the invitation likely referenced their status as former prime ministers, an attempt to signal influence over Romania.

'But all Putin has shown is that their connections lie in the past, not in Romania's future,' the Foreign minister added.

Toiu stressed that 'Romania has clearly chosen its path: the European Union, the strategic partnership with the United States, support for democracies and for our neighbours during these challenging times.' 'To continue building this future, politicians who are friends of Putin do not represent us,' she underscored.

'None of those who today legitimately represent Romania's democracy were present at that event and that is a very clear sign of separation from Vladimir Putin. Those listening to the statements of these former politicians should pay close attention to when they use the word ‘patriotism'. It is very difficult to speak credibly about patriotism while proudly posing for a photograph with someone who is bombing Romanian-speaking communities in Ukraine, as happened in Izmail, for example, or who is threatening the security of trade routes on the Danube or the Black Sea, such as in the recent Russian drone attack near our border,' she said in an appearance on Digi 24 private television broadcaster.

She also noted that the Romanian Embassy had received an official invitation to the event, but 'no member of the Government could have represented Romania there.'

The minister further showed that this kind of presence does not serve Romania's goals or interests, but clarified that the attendance of the two former prime ministers was in a private capacity and not in any official role on behalf of the Romanian state.

'We have very clear laws prohibiting former officials from disclosing confidential information to which they had access, and of course, all Romanian citizens are expected to respect the law,' Oana Toiu concluded.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday jointly attended a massive military parade in Beijing, which international media described as a demonstration of military and diplomatic strength by a country whose leader declared it to be 'unstoppable,' AFP reported.

Former US President Donald Trump responded sarcastically, accusing China, Russia and North Korea of 'conspiring' against the United States. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)