Romania's far-right presidential frontrunner demands compensation from Ukraine

Romania’s nationalist AUR party leader and presidential frontrunner George Simion has called for Ukraine to compensate Romania for military aid provided during the war, including the recent transfer of a Patriot air defence system.

Simion criticised the current Romanian government for offering support to foreign nations while, in his view, neglecting the needs of its own people, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The hard-right official avoided giving a clear answer on whether Romania would back future aid packages to Ukraine within the European Council. Instead, he emphasised that his vote would be based solely on what he deems to be Romania’s national interest.

“My country is Romania. I will vote only in accordance with the interest of the Romanian nation. Our position towards Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has already lasted for three years and is going nowhere, is neutrality—not escalation, not supplying weapons,” he stated, emphasising alignment with the foreign policy stance of US President Donald Trump.

Simion criticised Romania’s donation of a US-made Patriot missile system to Ukraine, calling it “a betrayal of the interests of the Romanian nation.” He argued that Ukraine should offer compensation in return for Romania’s participation in the Western-backed war effort.

“Ukraine needs us, we don’t need Ukraine. Ukraine must respect the national and religious rights of the half a million Romanians living in Ukraine. And we certainly want compensation for Romania’s participation in the war effort so far,” he noted. 

Simion said the form of that compensation—whether through post-war reconstruction contracts, grain shipments, or other arrangements—was to be determined, but insisted that Romania must benefit from “reciprocity.”

George Simion has emerged as the frontrunner for Romania's next president, securing 40.5 per cent of the votes in the repeat's first round held on May 4. He has stated that if he secures the presidency in the second round of elections on May 18 and takes a seat at the European Council in Brussels, he will urge fellow EU leaders to align their defence policies with those of Donald Trump’s White House.

By Sabina Mammadli