George Simion is a self-written euro-realist with different opinions on Ukraine. However, he did not fall to any kind of anti-Ukrainian feeling, he said. It is the patriotism and the protection of the interests of the Romanian minority that live there, clear and simple.
And to prove this point, in his mind, there is no doubt about who is to blame for the war in Ukraine, or who can be the peaceful.
“Our position towards the Russian war is very clear. It is a Russian war against Ukraine, against all international treaties, and our hopes and prayers go towards a peaceful solution of the Trump administration in this region because the climbing of the conflict is not the answer,” said Simion in a joint interview with Euronews and Euronews in Romania.
“Our problems with Ukraine do not concern hatred, to oppose something. These are Ukrainians who must respect international treaties and the rights of national minorities,” said Simion.
“We have half a million Romanian speakers in Ukraine, and they do not have the right to school and church.”
Simion always has a permanent ban on the entry into Ukraine, as well as in neighboring Moldova. However, he is convinced that the prohibitions will be lifted once he has come into office.
“Probably after winning on May 19, these false prohibitions will disappear because it is in the interest of Chisinau and kyiv to work with us. I want to work with them on several subjects and I want to have good neighborhood relations,” he said.
When asked if Romania will continue to support Ukraine, defending itself against the total war of Russia, now in its fourth year, or if Bucharest will put this on hold, Simion was clear.
“This is not an obligation as far as I know, and I will not help Ukraine until Ukraine manages to respect the law of Romanians living in the sovereign territory of Ukraine,” he said.
Does this mean that Romania would withdraw its support? Simion said yes.
“I have said it on several occasions. The solution is a negotiation of ceasefire and peace, defusing the conflict and we must follow the interests of the Romanian nation, and not other nations which are not part of the European Union and NATO. And NATO is a defensive alliance,” he said.
However, the future of Romania is closely linked to that of the EU in the opinions of Sion, when there is no chance that his country leaves NATO under its direction, he stressed.
“For us, being a member of NATO is vital. We have sacrificed a lot for having been admitted to NATO. We have invested a lot, and our defense expenses are quite important.”
“So we want to be, with Poland and the Baltic States, the eastern NATO flank, and we want to invest more in our defense expenses. We want a NATO led by the United States,” he added.
Simion has become the favorite of the next president of Romania, obtaining 40.5% of the votes during the first round of the rehearsal held last Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENTOnly two days after his victory, in an interview before the debate on Euronews in Romania, Simion was optimistic about his chances – and very vocal on his policies.
He is neither a Eurosceptic politician nor a pro-Russian politician, and he is tired of incessant involvement, in particular from abroad, he stressed.
“I am a Euro-realist,” Simion told Euronews. “We want a Europe of nations, and I am the most fought the most before entering politics against Russian propaganda.”
His opponent in the second round, Unucșor Dan, who received 21% of the votes on Sunday, is a pro-Ukraine ally.
ADVERTISEMENTThe two candidates participated in a debate, organized by Euronews Romania on Thursday evening, in which Ukraine was one of the main discussion subjects.
