January 28, 2026
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 28.01.2026, 13:55
Visit – The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who is on an official visit to Germany, is meeting today with the Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Defense cooperation will be the focus of the discussions between the two, in the context of joint arms purchases, which are to be carried out through the European SAFE program. The Romanian Prime Minister is also to meet with the Vice President of the Federal Parliament, Andrea Lindholz, the leader of the CDU parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, and the President of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. At the same time, the Prime Minister will have a meeting with the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, in the context of marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. Ilie Bolojan will visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and will talk with the Director of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Foundation, Uwe Neumarker. The Head of the Executive will meet, at the Romanian Embassy, with representatives of the Romanian community. Romanians represent the fourth largest community of foreigners in Germany, with approximately 910,000 people. Over 90,000 of them have received German citizenship. Besides them are approximately 500,000 ethnic Germans originating from Romania, well integrated in Germany, the Government mentioned. The Prime Minister’s visit to Germany began on Tuesday, with a meeting with representatives of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Paris – In front of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has warned that Europe is currently facing two wars: a military one, waged by Russia against Ukraine, and a hybrid one, directed against European democracies. If Russia is not held accountable, there will be no lasting peace, said Maia Sandu. According to Radio Chișinău, she reiterated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represents a direct threat not only to Kyiv but also to the security of Chișinău and the whole of Europe. If Ukraine falls, Russia will not stop in the Republic of Moldova, said Maia Sandu.
Ukraine – The war in Ukraine has made nearly two million Russian and Ukrainian military casualties – wounded, killed and missing – shows a study published by an American think tank, cited by AFP. Moscow has suffered the highest losses, with 325,000 deaths out of an estimated total of 1.2 million victims since the invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). No major world power has had so many deaths and victims in any war since World War II, according to CSIS, which says that the Russian forces are advancing very slowly on the battlefield. Kyiv has also suffered significant losses. The conflict has caused between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties, including between 100,000 and 140,000 deaths, between February 2022 and December 2025, according to the think tank. Civilians have also paid a heavy price in the war.
Deficit – Romania’s state budget deficit in 2025 was 7.65% of the Gross Domestic Product, 1% lower than the previous year, according to official data presented by the Finance Ministry. The institution explains this evolution by the efficiency of the austerity measures adopted by the government, which brought 15% higher revenues and allowed record investments in the economy and infrastructure, and also by a slowdown in the expansion of public spending.
Accident – High ranking officials from Bucharest have sent their condolences to the families of the seven young people from Greece who lost their lives in a road accident on Tuesday on a national road in western Romania. The seven were supporters of the PAOK Thessaloniki team, coached by Romanian Razvan Lucescu, and were traveling by minibus to Lyon, France, where their favorite team will play. According to the Police, the man driving the minibus crossed into the opposite direction at some point and collided head-on with a lorry. Three other people in the minibus were injured. Two victims suffered spinal injuries and are being treated at a hospital in Timişoara. A third survivor of the road accident is in good condition. An association of Timişoara supporters announced that it stands in solidarity with the families of the seven deceased Greeks and that its members will donate blood for the injured. (LS)
