A presidential candidate in Romania stated that Ukraine does not exist.

In an interview with Romanian journalist Ion Cristoiu, the politician emphasized that Romania has a "self-interest" in Northern Bukovina – a region in the west of modern Ukraine that belonged to Romania from 1918 until it was transferred to Soviet Ukraine after World War II.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Romanian politician's remarks as "absolutely unacceptable." The agency believes that Georgescu showed "complete disrespect for Ukraine and its people."

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded to Georgescu's statement. They declared that Romania supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, adding that the former presidential candidate "lacks official authority and, therefore, cannot speak on behalf of Romania, but is expressing a personal opinion."

• 62-year-old Călin Georgescu, a former member of the right-wing party "Alliance for the Union of Romanians," is a staunch critic of the European Union and NATO, as well as a supporter of various conspiracy theories. Among other things, he denies the existence of COVID-19 and climate issues, claiming that people are being microchipped through carbonated beverages. The politician has repeatedly praised Vladimir Putin, which has led many media outlets to label him as "pro-Russian."
• In 2024, Georgescu ran as an independent candidate for the presidency of Romania and won in the first round. However, before the second round, the Constitutional Court of Romania annulled the results due to suspicions of illegal campaign financing, voter bribery, and potential interference in the electoral process by Russia. A new date for the presidential elections in Romania has yet to be announced.