Romania
The first ministerial meeting between Ukraine and Southeast Europe was held in Kyiv, where a joint communiqué was adopted. The document reaffirms support for Ukraine and calls for strengthening the region's energy security.
On January 17, Russian drones violated Romanian airspace during an attack on Ukraine. The Romanian military raised F-16 fighters and found traces of a drone crash near the city of Plaura.
At night, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using 50 drones and 2 Iskander-M missiles. Air defense systems shot down 33 drones, and a number of them hit businesses in Odesa region.
The President of Ukraine said that most Western countries do not want to recognize the possibility of further Russian aggression after Ukraine. According to him, this is the main mistake that prevents them from strengthening their support for Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine said that without the Ukrainian army, EU troops would have no chance against Russia. Zelenskyy called on Europe to triple its weapons production and warned of a threat to neighboring countries.
Since the beginning of 2024, the State Border Guard Service has reported 59,000 refusals to cross the border, mostly to men aged 18-60. Most violations are recorded on the border with Romania and Moldova, and there has been a decrease in illegal crossing attempts.
Mass protests were held in Bucharest against the Constitutional Court's decision to cancel the 2024 presidential election. The action was organized by the AUR party, and several people were injured during the 10-hour rally.
Cyprus plans to finalize all technical issues to join the Schengen area by the end of 2025. The country's president announced the expected benefits for tourism and investment, but experts warn of possible complications due to the island's divided status.
Romania will hold repeat presidential elections on May 4 and 18 after the results of the previous vote were annulled. Ultranationalist Kelin Georgescu, who won thanks to a TikTok campaign, may once again become a favorite.
Vehicular traffic at the Solotvyno-Sighetu-Marmaciei checkpoint will be restricted from January 10 to February 28, 2025. The restrictions will be in effect daily from 9:00 to 15:30, and pedestrians will be able to cross the border without obstacles.
President of Ukraine had a conversation with Maia Sandu on energy challenges in Moldova. Ukraine is ready to provide assistance with coal to overcome the energy crisis and counter Russian pressure.
A 12-year-old boy from Kyiv died at a ski resort in the Lviv region. The child suffered a fatal head injury after falling while skiing.
A resident of Chernivtsi district was sentenced to 7 years in prison for attempting to smuggle three conscripts to Moldova. The men were found in the luggage compartment of a minibus while trying to cross the border.
Eight Nordic countries have announced their intention to increase assistance to Moldova after the suspension of Russian gas supplies on January 1, 2025. The NB8 countries praised the Moldovan authorities for their efforts to ensure energy stability.
Due to the cessation of Russian gas supplies, the energy deficit in Transnistria reached 30%. Moldova offered Tiraspol alternative options for purchasing gas, but received no response.
The National Agency of Moldova has approved new utility tariffs. The cost of heat will increase to 2,510 lei per gigacalorie, and electricity will rise by 65-75%.
State-owned Energocom has purchased electricity from Ukraine to cover the deficit as of January 2. Additionally, an agreement was signed with Energoatom to supply energy at night.
Moldova was granted the right to increase its electricity import quota from the EU from 315 MW to 600 MW. This is possible provided that the electricity is not used by other importers.
After the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, Transnistria was left without supplies and Moldova switched to alternative energy sources. The Right Bank receives 52% of its electricity from Romania and 45% from local sources.
The Moldovan TPP in Transnistria has stopped supplying electricity to the right bank of the Dniester and switched to coal fuel. Stocks of Donetsk coal will be sufficient for 50 days to meet the humanitarian needs of the region.
On January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria officially became part of the Schengen area. Passport checks at land borders have been canceled, making it easier to travel between EU countries.
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The separatist authorities of Transnistria have cut off gas supplies to 12 state institutions due to the upcoming cessation of transit from Russia. “Gazprom plans to stop gas exports to Moldova on January 1 due to debts.
Romania will hold repeat presidential elections on March 23 and April 6, 2025. The previous results were canceled due to large-scale cyberattacks and suspicions of external interference.
The Cabinet of Ministers has determined the list of goods subject to export licensing in 2025. Quotas for sugar and poultry exports and restrictions on grain exports to five EU countries were established.
Romania's radar systems detected a small flying object that penetrated 6 km inland in the Tulcea County. The object stayed in the airspace for about 5 minutes, after which it disappeared from the radar.
Russia's foreign ministry is creating a network of fake advertising agencies to spread disinformation in the West and the Global South. One of these companies, AdNow, founded by a Russian woman named Serebryanskaya, has already been identified by the Financial Times.
The European Parliament has begun preparing a resolution on systemic disinformation and historical falsifications by the Russian Federation. The document exposes Russia's attempts to interfere in the politics of the EU, the US and other countries through cyberattacks and manipulations.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved strategies for reforming psychoneurological institutions until 2034 and developing border infrastructure until 2030. Both documents are part of the Ukraine Facility Plan.
On Christmas Day, 68,000 people crossed the border on December 25, which is significantly less than in previous days. Border guards note the highest passenger traffic dynamics during martial law during the New Year holidays.