December 18, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 18.12.2025, 13:55
Summit. Romanian President Nicuşor Dan is in Brussels, where he participated yesterday in the EU – Western Balkans summit, and today he is attending the European Council. The heads of state and government of the member countries are mainly discussing the situation in Ukraine, with an emphasis on solid and credible security guarantees for Kyiv and diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. The issue of using frozen Russian assets to finance aid to Ukraine will also be discussed – an issue that is not supported by all European leaders. Ahead of today’s meeting, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked his European allies to continue supporting Ukraine so that the Russian leader understands that war is futile. Vladimir Putin has threatened that if diplomacy fails, Russia will military seize the four regions in eastern and southeastern Ukraine annexed by Moscow.
Ukraine. A meeting between Russian and American envoys on the war in Ukraine will take place this weekend in Miami, Florida, a White House official announced on Wednesday, according to AFP. The US presidency did not provide any details on the composition of the delegations. According to the Politico website, the US will be represented by Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, while Russia is expected to send Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the talks. This new round of negotiations will take place after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted “progress” toward a compromise between Kyiv and Washington on the content of a plan to be proposed to Moscow to end the fighting, following meetings held on Sunday and Monday in Berlin between US, Ukrainian, and European officials.
Government. The president of the co-ruling Save Romania Union (USR), Dominic Fritz, has convened the party’s Political Committee for Friday to vote on proposals for the ministries of Defense and Economy. The current Minister of Economy, Radu Miruţă, has been nominated for the position of Minister of Defense and will also serve as Deputy Prime Minister. Senator Irineu Darău is proposed to head the Ministry of Economy, according to a statement released by the USR. We recall that Ionuț Moșteanu recently resigned from his position as Minister of Defense following a scandal over his academic education.
Protest. Trade unionists from four confederations have protested today in front of the Romanian Presidency headquarters, asking the country’s leader, Nicușor Dan, to initiate mediation between the government and social partners, in the context of discontent over austerity policies and the minimum wage. Around 4,000 participants took part in the protest. On Wednesday, the ruling coalition reached an agreement to increase the minimum wage to 4,325 lei (around 865 euros) from July 1, 2026. It was also agreed to reduce central government spending by 10% without affecting basic salaries, to reduce the lump sum received by senators and deputies by 10%, and to reduce the level of subsidies received by political parties. It was also decided to reduce the minimum turnover tax to 0.5% from January 1, 2026, and to eliminate it from 2027.
EUROSTAT. Romania continues to approach the European Union average in terms of consumption, according to data published by Eurostat. Last year, actual individual consumption, an indicator of household welfare, reached 86% of the EU average. At European level, the highest values were recorded in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany, and the lowest in Latvia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. The data also show significant differences in GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power parity: Luxembourg recorded the highest level, 145% above the EU average, and Bulgaria the lowest, 34% below it.
Commemoration. In Timişoara, the city in western Romania where the anti-communist revolution broke out in December 1989, commemorative events continue today. Students from 17 schools and high schools went on a pilgrimage to the Monuments of the Revolution, and in the evening, candles will be placed on the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Wednesday, December 17, was a day of mourning in Timişoara, in memory of the martyred heroes of the Revolution, and throughout the day, services were held in churches and cemeteries.
Football. Romanian soccer team Universitatea Craiova (south) faces AEK Athens today in an away game counting towards the final stage of the Conference League. Romanian international Răzvan Marin plays for the Greek team. With two wins, one draw, and two losses, Universitatea Craiova is in 23rd place in the competition standings and can qualify with a favorable result. We remind you that another Romanian team, champions FCSB (Bucharest), is playing in the Europa League and has two more matches to play, against Dinamo Zagreb, away, and Fenerbahce, both in January. (MI)
