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.
Spain is battling some of the largest wildfires in its history, with uncontrolled blazes raging in more than 50 locations from the north to the south ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, days after Trump’s summit with Russian Presid...
The United States has deployed more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to waters near Latin America and the Caribbean in a major move against drug cartels...
The Washington Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has sparked a mix of hope, doubt, and cautious realism among Armenians....
The hurricane was located about 170 km north of Anguilla, with maximum sustained winds near 255 km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)...
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
A deadly heatwave has claimed 1,180 lives in Spain since May, with elderly people most at risk, prompting calls for urgent social support.
Spain is battling some of the largest wildfires in its history, with uncontrolled blazes raging in more than 50 locations from the north to the south of the country, forcing over 4,000 people to spend the night outdoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without a ceasefire deal.
The United States has deployed more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to waters near Latin America and the Caribbean in a major move against drug cartels, CNN reported on Friday, citing defence officials.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to Washington at the request of the Trump administration, his office confirmed Saturday.
A China-supported landmine elimination project has cleared more than 160 square kilometres of contaminated land in Cambodia since 2018, directly benefiting over 2.6 million people, officials said Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment