Romania’s far-right presidential frontrunner George Simion said the country should be compensated for aiding Ukraine, as he clashed with centrist rival Nicusor Dan in a televised debate ahead of the decisive run-off vote.
Romanian presidential candidate George Simion, who leads the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has called for Romania to be compensated for its support to Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. In a televised debate, Simion said that Romania’s contributions—including military donations and grain export facilitation—should be reciprocated in the future, whether through reconstruction contracts or other benefits such as grain shipments.
Simion, 38, who opposes military aid to Kyiv and has aligned himself with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" movement, is leading in polls ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. Simion has also expressed strong criticism of the EU’s defence policies and said he would block EU military support for Ukraine if elected.
Mayor Dan, 55, countered during the debate that Romania’s continued support for Ukraine is vital for national security and aligns with EU interests. He endorsed EU plans to increase defence capacity and reduce reliance on the United States, arguing that military preparedness serves as a deterrent rather than provocation.
Dan warned that Romania should not jeopardise its relations with Western partners, especially as it plays a key role in NATO’s eastern flank logistics. He said that supporting Ukraine's resistance was integral to ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Simion’s stance has raised concerns among analysts, who warn that his presidency could strain Romania’s foreign relations, diminish investor confidence, and undermine NATO cohesion.
Romania’s presidency holds significant influence, including command of the military and participation in EU and NATO decisions requiring unanimous agreement.
Israel has launched new airstrikes on Sanaa and al-Jawf, targeting Houthi military sites in retaliation for recent attacks on its territory....
China has launched its first review of its foreign trade law since 2004, signalling a potential shift in how the country manages international commerc...
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius condemned the recent violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones as an unacceptable, targeted provocation a...
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised her country's "excellent" relationship with India during a phone call on Wednesday with her counterpart ...
Kazakhstan and Pakistan have pledged to expand bilateral collaboration between the two countries by signing a mutual agreement hoping to bolster total...
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius condemned the recent violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones as an unacceptable, targeted provocation against NATO.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised her country's "excellent" relationship with India during a phone call on Wednesday with her counterpart Narendra Modi, without referring to U.S. calls for the EU to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Indian imports.
Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that its drones had carried out a major attack on military facilities in western Ukraine but that it had not planned to hit any targets in Poland.
On Wednesday, Poland shot down drones in its airspace, aided by military aircraft from NATO allies. This marked the first instance of a NATO member firing shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Sebastien Lecornu, chosen by President Emmanuel Macron to be France's fifth prime minister in just two years, took office on Wednesday amid widespread anti-government protests that highlighted the country's deepening political crisis.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment