Romanian presidential candidate insists on compensation for aid to Ukraine: far-right leader demands reimbursement of the country’s expenses
Amid the political battle surrounding the upcoming presidential elections in Romania, new scandalous statements have emerged, drawing attention from both local and European observers. The leader of the far-right party "Alliance for the Union of Romanians" (AUR), who secured victory in the first round of voting, Georghe Simion, issued an open statement regarding the country's obligations for supporting Ukraine during wartime. His position has caused significant resonance and brought to the surface an old theme—the role and responsibilities of countries providing assistance in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to Digi24, one of Romania's leading news outlets, amid preparations for the second round of presidential elections, the independent candidate openly announced his intention to completely reorient the country's government policy around internal interests. Simion stated that his stance on the war in Ukraine is one of complete neutrality, involving refusal to escalate the conflict and to supply weapons. At the same time, he emphasized that his policies are responsible for a direction close to the ideas of former President Donald Trump, particularly regarding the restraint of external military interventions. "We must take care of our own citizens and not participate in foreign conflicts," Simion summarized, highlighting the need to focus on internal issues and the country's economic problems. In his view, Ukraine must respect the interests of the Romanian minority living within its territory and recognize the role of the Romanian community in the neighboring country. Furthermore, the politician expressed the idea that Romania has the right to claim compensation for the aid it provided to Ukraine or its military— both in monetary and material terms. He pointed out that special attention should be paid specifically to expenses related to the Patriot missile system, a modern anti-missile complex that was gifted and implemented during Klaus Iohannis's presidency. According to Simion, "these expenses are a treacherous act," and the country should receive appropriate compensation. "We did a lot for Ukraine, and now we demand justice," the candidate concluded. He also added that he values any discussions on how to provide compensation and proposes returning the funds spent supporting Ukraine, thereby reducing internal social tensions and focusing on solving domestic problems. Recall that the first round of the Romanian presidential elections took place on May 4. For the first time, this election resulted in a significant victory for Georghe Simion’s candidacy, which received 40.94% of voter support. His main opponent was the liberal Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan, who garnered 20.99%. Such a breakthrough by the far-right leader caused broad resonance and stirred the political environment, particularly in the context of discussions about future options in the country’s foreign policy and its stance on aid to Ukraine. Many analytical circles are already talking about the prospects of strengthening far-right sentiments in the country, which could have significant consequences for regional stability and international relations. Whether the new political course will foster a more restrained and pragmatic approach by the Romanian authorities toward the Ukrainian war remains an open question. At the same time, Simion’s statements lay the groundwork for potential changes in the external policy orientation of the Balkan Peninsula and Eastern Europe.