August 8, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 08.08.2025, 13:55

CONSULTATIONS– A new round of political consultations in the Ukraine – Romania – Republic of Moldova format, at the level of foreign ministers, is taking place in Chernivtsi. Foreign ministers from Poland and Lithuania are also participating. The meeting is dedicated to strengthening the energy security of the region before the cold season and coordinating actions against Russian disinformation, according to the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Andriy Sibiha. In Chernivtsi, the Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu, is also meeting with members of the ethnic Romanian community. Prior to participating in these consultations, Minister Toiu was in Kyiv on Thursday, where she had meetings with several Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Yulia Svirîdenko and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. The Romanian official reiterated Romania’s support for Ukraine, and among the topics addressed during the discussions were ongoing joint projects, the participation of Romanian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine, the development of cooperation in the military industry, as well as minority rights, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram page that he thanked Romania for the military, political and logistical assistance and for the contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, given that Bucharest donated a Patriot system to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky also welcomed the adoption of the law that allows the shooting down of drones that enter Romania’s airspace.

MEETING – Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin announced on Thursday, after the White House had also said that a meeting could take place next week. Reuters reports that this would be the first US-Russia summit since the one between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, in June 2021. The meeting was set in the context in which Donald Trump has recently expressed increased frustration at Russia’s refusal to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine and threatened with new sanctions on Moscow today if the latter does not get involved in the peace process.

GAZA – The Israeli security cabinet has approved plans for the Israeli army to take control of Gaza City, a controversial escalation in the almost two-year war, the BBC reports. The occupation of Gaza City would involve a new displacement of Palestinians – about a million people, who would be forced to move to camps in the southern Gaza Strip, CNN also reports. The decision was taken after several hours of discussions at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Netanyahu. In addition, a set of five principles for ending the war was approved, which include the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas, as well as the formation of a civilian government, without Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Before the marathon security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu had told Fox News that he intended to ask the government’s support for the reoccupation of the entire Gaza Strip, from which Israel withdrew 20 years ago. Opposition leader Yair Lapid reacted to the declaration, saying that the reoccupation of Gaza means more war and the death of more hostages. Thousands of Israelis also demanded in the streets to end the war and bring the hostages home, amid fears that their lives would be endangered by a new offensive.

FILM – Romania’s most famous music festival, UNTOLD, has kicked off in Cluj-Napoca, in the northwest of Romania, bringing over 250 international artists and hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world. Post Malone, Metro Boomin, Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Don Diablo and many others will take to the main stage, one of the largest structures of its kind in Romania. Now in its 10th edition, UNTOLD benefits from the most ambitious setting ever built for a festival in Romania. On the other hand, in Sibiu (center), the 19th edition of the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF) is taking place from August 7-10.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champion, FCSB, defeated Kosovo’s FC Drita, 3-2, on Thursday evening, on the National Arena in Bucharest, in the first leg of the third preliminary round of the Europa League football competition. Also on Thursday, Romania’s vice-champion, CFR Cluj, was defeated at home by Sporting Braga (Portugal) with a score of 2-1, in the same competition. In the preliminary round of the Conference League, Universitatea Craiova outclassed the Slovak team Spartak Trnava 3-nil. The decisive matches for qualification will be played next week, with all three Romanian teams set to play away. (EE)