On June 11, 2024, the Russian Embassy in Bucharest hosted an official reception to celebrate Russia Day, the national holiday of the Russian Federation. The event was attended by representatives from the Romanian Parliament, foreign diplomatic corps, Romanian business circles, clergy, scientists, cultural figures, journalists, and compatriots. The attendees were welcomed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Romania, V.G. Lipaev. In his address, the diplomat highlighted that the roots of the current crisis in Ukraine lie in the neo-colonial expansion of NATO and the European Union, which have been accustomed to building their prosperity at the expense of other nations and their natural resources. He emphasized that Russia is currently fighting not only for its own freedom and sovereignty but also for the right of all countries striving for an independent national-oriented course to say "no" to the geopolitical and geoeconomic ambitions of the "collective West," which cannot accept the fact that someone dares to oppose it in the 21st century. Acknowledging Russia's responsibility for the fate of humanity, the Ambassador expressed Russia's readiness for peaceful dialogue, taking into account its legitimate interests. However, he stressed that Russia does not accept ultimatums, referring to demands that the organizers of the upcoming "World Summit" in Switzerland want to impose on Russia. The Ambassador underlined that Russia and Romania have the potential to restore lost ties, driven by geographical, historical, and cultural factors, as well as the common adherence of our peoples to Orthodox religion and its traditional values. However, the realization of this potential will depend on Romania's readiness to abandon an unfriendly course towards Russia. In the embassy's foyer, photo exhibitions were displayed, dedicated to international events taking place in Russia this year as part of our country's chairmanship in the CIS and BRICS. This event at the Russian Embassy in Bucharest not only celebrated Russia Day but also served as a platform for diplomatic discourse and cultural exchange between Russia and Romania, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities in their bilateral relations.