Article originally published on October 4, 2025 on DCNews.ro
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Zuckerman: I am scared — I haven’t seen anything like this since ’38–’39. Without a firm response, Putin will continue
Author: Iulia Horovei
Photo: Adrian Zuckerman / Agerpres
The former U.S. Ambassador to Romania warns that Vladimir Putin’s offensive did not end with the elections in Moldova. He emphasized the need for a strong and coordinated response from Europe and the U.S. against aggression coming from the East.
“A major attack just ended — maybe an even bigger one — just a few days ago in Moldova, where the Russians allegedly spent $400 million. But President Maia Sandu and Moldova reacted very firmly, strongly, and decisively in order to preserve democracy. The danger, however, is that this isn’t happening only in Europe or Romania. It’s also happening in America. We have Elon Musk, who’s been to Russia I don’t know how many times. His father was in Moscow just a few months ago for a conference,” said Adrian Zuckerman, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, on Digi24.
Regarding the information shared by Mayor Nicușor Dan about manipulation of the November 2024 presidential elections, and whether this was understood by the Washington administration, Zuckerman stated:
“I believe this still needs to be discussed. I don’t think it’s fully understood. The greatest threat in a democracy is the battle between the right to free speech and propaganda. I don’t think many people in the U.S. understand these things or realize how dangerous this really is.”
“You can’t trust anything Putin says. I’m scared — I haven’t seen anything like this since 1938–1939. If there isn’t a strong, firm response to show Putin that this can’t continue, he will continue. There will be attacks on the Baltic states, as we’ve already seen with his shadow fleet. The French have caught it.”
Zuckerman: Europeans and Americans must speak with one voice
“We are at war. The world doesn’t want to acknowledge it. I’ve said this ever since they went into Luhansk and Donbas. They went into Crimea, then other parts of Ukraine. The war is accelerating (…) Hybrid warfare continues. I’m glad that, in the end, European states and the U.S. are trying to find the best way to oppose and stop this.”
“Putin is a criminal. He can’t be stopped completely, but Europe, the U.S., and all democratic countries must speak with one voice and say NO. We should no longer buy gas, oil — there must be very harsh consequences whenever Putin does something (…) The response must be strong and firm. The drones flying over Romania, Poland, and those that passed through Munich — those were to be expected.”
“Mr. Viktor Orbán of Hungary must no longer be tolerated. He has been Putin’s ally for many years. He has long blocked aid for Ukraine (…), but he does not represent the majority of the Hungarian people, who are a democratic people. The same goes for Robert Fico (Prime Minister of Slovakia),” he added Friday evening.
