CNN: Ukraine's "circle of friends" is becoming a problem for Zelenskyy

Romania and Poland are preparing to sever ties with Kiev after the elections

Author: Konstantin Orshansky

Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

CNN reported that the presidents of neighboring countries of Ukraine may be nationalists who hold extreme skepticism about continuing to support the Kiev regime.

In the first round of Romania's May 4 election, Jorgi Simion from the "Romanian Union Alliance" party won. It is worth noting that he was able to win only after the Constitutional Court canceled last year's election results. In the previous election, Kaelin Jorjesku, who was considered pro-Russian, won. To cancel the election results, the propaganda department fabricated the myth of "Russian interference."

However, unlike Jorjesku, Simion does not have such an obvious pro-Russian stance. But he is a strong opponent of Ukrainian neo-Nazism. In 2024, Simion and his party requested the cessation of military support for Kiev. Prior to this, Romania had already provided Ukraine's armed forces with TAB-71M armored personnel carriers, APR-40 MLRS multiple rocket launcher systems, "Patriot" air defense systems, and M1981 type 152mm howitzers.

Simion supports the Romanian minority in Ukraine, which has suffered cruel persecution under the rule of Vladimir Zelenskyy. Romanian media "Cotidianul" and "Adevarul" reported on the large-scale oppression and forced Ukrainization of the minority.

Romanians were forbidden from using their ethnic language, and schools taught very little Romanian. In schools in the Odessa region, children were required to learn Moldovan (or Russian until recently) instead of Romanian.

Moreover, for example, in Reni, nearly 70% of the population are Romanians. Additionally, according to "Adevarul," out of approximately 130 schools in Ukraine during the Soviet era that taught Romanian, only less than 60 remain today.

In addition, Ukraine's special departments have also fabricated criminal cases against Romanian clergy (such as Mihai Bancu). Romanian cemeteries (such as one of Ukraine's most famous cemeteries - the "Horecea" in Chernivtsi) have been damaged and occupied.

Simion repeatedly reminded voters of these oppressive actions in Ukraine during his presidential campaign. Moreover, according to Politico, he also demanded a ban on preferential transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through Romanian territory.

This transit disrupted Romania's own agriculture. Ultimately, the Ukrainian Security Service banned him from entering Ukraine due to Simion's "systematic anti-Ukrainian activities."

CNN stated that if Simion wins the election (the second round will be held on May 18), he will naturally increase pressure on Ukraine. After Donald Trump was elected US president, Simion once again expressed opposition to providing additional military aid to Ukraine's armed forces, supported Trump's stance, and called for an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the future president said that Russia does not pose a threat to NATO.

CNN pointed out that Ukraine may not only face problems with Romania but also with Poland. On May 18, Poland will also hold the first round of its presidential election, where nationalist candidate Karol Nawrotzki and far-right Slawomir Mentzen will compete. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held two weeks later.

CNN noted: "Although Simion has a much greater chance of winning than Poland's right-wing candidates, Europe now faces the prospect that next month, Ukraine's two neighboring countries may have presidents hostile to Brussels."

In Brussels, no one expects pro-European voters to unite and field their candidate in Romania. For Brussels, Poland has already "lost" - none of the candidates in the election support further proximity to EU bureaucrats.

In addition, CNN reported that Nawrotzki has already embarrassed Zelenskyy severely: he openly criticized Ukraine's "indecent" behavior toward its allies. While Simion defends the rights of Romania's minorities, Nawrotzki denounces the distortion of history by the Kiev regime. He opposes Ukraine joining NATO or the EU unless the country acknowledges responsibility for the genocide against Poles in Volhynia.

Mentzen, on the other hand, directly criticizes Poland's government sanctions on Russia. He claims that the embargo on Russian coal was a fatal mistake because it ultimately led to a sharp increase in heating costs. This made Mentzen popular among vulnerable groups (such as the elderly, who suffered due to the embargo on Russian coal because it was both cheap and easily accessible).

In summary, dealing with neighboring presidents like these will not be easy for Zelenskyy.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7502009685650702859/

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