section_path: Presidency (2020–present)/Russian invasion of Ukraine
section_name: Russian invasion of Ukraine
paragraph_text: Russian invasion of Ukraine
  
  In December 2021, Milanović criticised prime minister Plenković's visit to Ukraine made at the start of a new escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war calling it "plain charlatanism". The prime minister responded by saying that the government sought to maintain good relations with Russia too.
  
  Harsh reaction from Ukraine's government followed Milanović's statements made on 25 January 2022 about Ukraine not being fit to join NATO, as well the country being corrupt and Russia deserving to be given a way to have its security demands met. Milanović also referred to the 2014 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine as a " coup d'état ". The foreign ministry of Ukraine summoned Croatian ambassador Anica Djamić, whereafter the ministry issued a comment that said that Zoran Milanović's statements retransmit Russian propaganda narratives, do not correspond to Croatia's consistent official position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, harm bilateral relations and undermine unity within the EU and NATO in the face of current security threats in Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands a public refutation of these insulting statements by the President of Croatia, as well as non-repetition in the future." The same day, he was included in the blacklist of Myrotvorets. Russia's pro-government media outlets gave Milanović's pronouncements much publicity, presenting them as a sign of a split in the ranks of the EU and NATO and predicting that other EU leaders would follow suit. Croatia's prime minister Plenković reacted by saying that on hearing Milanović's statements he thought it was being said "by some Russian official"; he also offered apologies to Ukraine and reiterated that Croatia supported Ukraine's territorial integrity. In an interview with the RTL television network shortly after, Milanović refused to apologise and re-affirmed his stance on Ukraine and went on to say that he thought that prime minister Andrej Plenković "behaved like an agent of Ukraine". On 1 March 2022, Milanović stated: "one has to be concerned when Ukraine threatens to use nuclear weapons, or when Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons."
  
  On 1 February 2022, as the UK defence secretary Ben Wallace was in Zagreb for a meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Mario Banožić, to discuss the security situation caused by the crisis over Ukraine, Milanović told the press he thought Britain was "misleading Ukraine, inciting it, and holding it hostage to the relationship between London, which ha become a second-order power, and Washington"; he also said Ukraine would "not make itself happy if it listen to London" and voiced his opinion that the EU could not enjoy stability without settlement with Russia. Shortly after, former Russian ambassador to Croatia Anvar Azimov welcomed "the reasonable statements of president Zoran Milanović about Ukraine", while Croatian weekly Globus opined that Milanović proved to be the only statesman in the EU and NATO, who "so openly demonstrated his acceptance of Russia, relativised its actions, and criticised America, Britain and other NATO allies for the current tensions". When being asked by journalists about the Bucha massacre, Milanović responded: "That is far away, I know nothing about that. The Russians withdrew. What was found there, who found it, from Croatian experience, don't ask me about that, be careful." On the same occasion, he said that Ukraine isn't a democratic state "otherwise they would start negotiations with the EU or had some status". In June Milanović again commented on the war in Ukraine by saying: " Zelenskyy 's words lead to defeat, once Russian boot arrives somewhere, it never leaves. It is a powerful military force. Russia is not like us, they are not a democracy. As an enemy, they are indestructible." In September 2022, Milanović characterised the EU's Ukraine policy as "stupid" and not being in the interest of Croatia, nor Germany. He went on to say: "We're currently watching Russia emaciate Ukraine with a very small number of soldiers". He added that the West had for eight years failed to have Ukraine respect the Minsk agreements.
  
  In the aftermath of the Tu-141 drone crash in Zagreb, Milanović issued the order to ban NATO 's aircraft flights over Zagreb and other Croatian cities, stating that the flights "disturb the citizens". By doing so, he continued his conflict with prime minister Plenković, who said that these flights are supposed to send the message of "strategic partnership and safety of Croatian citizens". After the EU announced the possibility of training Ukrainian troops on its territory, including in Croatia, Milanović announced he was blocking this decision because, according to him that would bring the war to Croatia. In late January 2023, Milanović said: "from 2014 to 2022 we observed how someone provoked Russia, with intent of instigating this war.... Now we talk about tanks. We will send all German tanks there, as the Russian ones burned. The same destiny awaits the others..." In March 2023 Milanović gave a statement saying that Croatian donation of Mi-8 transport helicopters to Ukraine: "will lead to mass bloodshed, mass casualties and it extends the war" In June same year, he claimed that: " Ustaše were gentlemen in comparison with those who fought by the salute 'slava Ukraini'". In October 2024, Milanović spoke against the Croatian government's initiative for Croatian participation in NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission in Wiesenbaden, Germany, saying that it did not matter whether the personnel would be in "Wiesenbaden, Baden-Baden, or in Kiev", that those who concealed the fact that there were NATO soldiers physically in Ukraine deceived the European public.
  
  After being reelected on 2024–25 Croatian presidential election, Milanović in one of his first statements said that: " Ursula von den Leyen and Kaja Kallas are two women that cannot speak on behalf of Croatia." He also said that Moscow will decide which peacekeeping forces will arrive to Ukraine and what weapons will they carry, in response to Franco-British proposal of sending 30,000 troops to Ukraine. He described the idea as: "dreams of the grandchildren of those who led the Crimean War." Few days later, during the official visit to Slovenia, Milanović again commented war in Ukraine by saying that "the unjust peace is better than the continuation of the war." During his March 2025 visit to Montenegro, Milanović stated that: "Russia is a country that 'has made mistakes on many things,' but it does not pose a threat to Europe." He also called Coalition of the willing "dangerous and irresponsible" as "EU does not participate, nor will it participate, in peace negotiations, and Russia would not agree to such forces in any case."