January 7, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 07.01.2026, 14:00
European leaders voice commitment towards Ukraine
State and government leaders from the Coalition of the Willing, including Romania’s Nicușor Dan, underscored on Tuesday in Paris their commitment for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They said they are prepared to commit to a system of guarantees that will be activated upon the entry into force of an armistice. Such a document will deter further acts of aggression against Ukraine, provide assurances that it will not be forced to surrender, and ensure that any peace agreement will not be violated in the future.
Additionally, the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a declaration of intent regarding the deployment of a multinational force after the armistice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the documents adopted in Paris demonstrate the resolve to work together for genuine security.
As for President Nicușor Dan, he said that the document approved at the Coalition meeting in Paris will be examined in Parliament so as not to remain a mere declaration of intent. He also mentioned that Romania will not send troops to Ukraine.
European Commission reacts to Delcy Rodriguez’s swearing-in
The European Commission does not recognize the legitimacy of Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez. According to the Commission’s spokesperson for foreign policy, Anita Hipper, the mandate of the authorities in Caracas stems from an electoral process that does not observe the people’s will for democratic change. The country’s future should result from a dialogue leading to a democratic transition that includes all political actors committed to democracy, including opposition leaders.
The European Commission’s position contradicts that of the White House, which states that Venezuela’s current interim leader collaborates well with the United States. On the other hand, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges the international community to acknowledge that US intervention in Venezuela represents a violation of international law. Following the recent surprise operation in which the Americans removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power, he now faces four charges in the United States, including narcoterrorism.
USA eyes Greenland
The United States is examining the methods it can use to acquire Greenland and does not rule out employing military force to achieve this goal, the White House has announced. Greenland, which holds a strategic position and significant mineral reserves, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, an ally of the USA within NATO. Shortly after the operation against Venezuela, US President Donald Trump said that Washington needs Greenland for national security and that the issue of this island will be addressed within two months.
Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected the American claims, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that an attack on Greenland would mean the end of NATO. Six European powers, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have signed a joint statement in support of Denmark and emphasized that sovereignty, territorial integrity and border inviolability are principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and Greenland’s future can only be decided by Greenland and Denmark.
Achievement for Romanian mountaineering
Romanian mountaineer Adrian Ahrițculesei has conquered Mount Vinson (4,892 meters), the highest peak in Antarctica, as part of the “Seven Summits” circuit in which he aims to climb the seven highest peaks in the world. Mount Vinson is the sixth peak conquered by the mountaineer, leaving him only the highest peak in North America, Mount McKinley (6,194 meters) in Alaska.
Adrian Ahrițculesei (42 years old, an optometrist by profession) has several mountaineering achievements in his portfolio, including the conquest of Everest in May 2024 and, in January 2023, the completion of the “7 Volcanoes Circuit”, which brings together the highest volcanoes on the planet.
Radio Romania prepares project for Romanian Culture Day
On January 15, for National Culture Day, Radio Romania will launch a new version of the free platform eteatru.ro, the largest on-demand collection of radio drama in the country. Thanks to a modernized digital experience, users can now access thousands of productions from the National Radio Drama archives, from classic shows and legendary productions to contemporary creations. The new eteatru.ro will also feature a child-friendly interface, offering the most beautiful stories and plays for young ones. Users will be able to create a personal account, save their favorite shows and resume listening whenever they want.
Radio Romania’s first radio drama broadcast took place on February 18, 1929. Over the decades to this day, the National Radio Drama has built its own heritage sound archives, bringing together major works of Romanian and universal theater, prestigious directors and some of the most important voices of Romanian theater.
Feast Day
Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians on Wednesday celebrate Saint John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament. Approximately 2 million Romanians celebrate their name day, bearing the names Ion, Ioana or derivatives thereof.
Also on this day, Old Rite Christians celebrate Christmas or the Nativity of the Lord. In Orthodoxy, the monastic community of Mount Athos, the Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian churches, as well as Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land, still observe the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian one. (VP)
