August 25, 2022

Ukraine – Ukraine is grateful to Romania for the significant assistance provided since the first day of the war - the Ukrainian ambassador to Bucharest, Igor Prokopciuk, said on Wednesday during a ceremony organized on the occasion of Ukraine’s National Day. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have found temporary refuge on the Romanian territory, international assistance centers operate in Romania, which also facilitates Ukrainian exports, the Ukrainian diplomat added. Igor Prokopciuk also appreciated the fact that, on Ukraine’s Independence Day, the Ukrainian flag was hoisted at the Romanian Foreign Ministry and that its headquarters, as well as the buildings of Romania’s Parliament and Government were illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. He reiterated Kyiv's commitment to carrying out the necessary reforms for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. "The unjustified, unprovoked and illegal aggression by Russia must stop." the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, wrote in a Twitter post.

War – More than 20 people lost their lives and several dozen were injured, on Wednesday, in a Russian attack on a train station in central Ukraine, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the UN Security Council. The attack occurs in the context in which Ukraine marked, also on Wednesday, Independence Day and six months since the Russian invasion, which began on February 24. President Zelenski gave assurances that his country would fight to the end. Kyiv also reported several attacks on Independence Day, with Russian forces firing rockets and shells at several regions of Ukraine. We remind you that on August 24, 1991, the Supreme Rada of the then Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine adopted the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, which was the basis for the formation of the current Ukrainian state.

ProEtnica – More than 600 representatives of the 20 national minorities in Romania are expected, as of today until August 28, at the 18th edition of the ProEtnica Intercultural Festival in Sighişoara (center). After the festive opening, followed a debate on "Promoting peace through non-discrimination and solidarity in a crisis context". At the same time, the festival schedule also includes 60 traditional dance and music performances by ensembles of national minorities, art and photography exhibitions, a 'Literary Salon' where writers of national minorities present their creations, lectures, round tables and workshops. According to the organizers, this year, in a complicated moment for the peace of Europe, the ProEtnica Festival brings the peaceful message of intercultural dialogue in Romania, as a model of pacifist dialogue between countries and peoples.

Football – The Romanian football champions, CFR Cluj (north-west), meet, today, on home ground, the Slovenian team NK Maribor, in the return leg of the playoffs of the Europa Conference League groups. The first match ended in a draw, 0-0. After the defeat at home, score 1-2, the vice-champions FCSB (Bucharest) will play away against the Norwegians from Viking Stavanger, also for a place in the groups of the third continental competition. The stakes are the same for the match that the Universitatea Craiova (south) will play, away from home, against the Israeli team Hapoel Beer-Sheva. The first match ended in a draw, 1-1.

Volleyball – Romania's women's national volleyball team, coached by the Spanish Guillermo Naranjo Hernandez, defeated the Faroe Islands team 3-0 on Wednesday evening in Torshavn in a Group A match of the 2023 European Championship qualifiers. Also on Wednesday, Croatia defeated Israel 3-1, away from home. On August 28, the derby of the group will take place between Croatia and Romania. Romania and Croatia have two wins each in the group standings, while Israel and the Faroe Islands have 0 points. The teams ranked on the first two places qualify for next year's final tournament.

Statistics – Romanian live animal exports decreased by almost 17% in the first five months of 2022, as compared to the same period of last year, and totaled almost 183 million Euros - according to the National Institute of Statistics. Live animal imports also decreased by 18%, reaching over 66 million Euros. Thus, a trade surplus of 116 million Euros was recorded. In another development, in the first five months of the year, Romania exported meat and meat products worth 223 million Euros and imported meat products worth 532 million Euros. The resulting deficit is almost 350 million Euros, data provided by the National Institute of Statistics also show.

Table tennis – Romania’s teams won the gold medals at the 47th edition of the Balkan Table Tennis Championships in Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina). After victories against North Macedonia, Italy and Bulgaria, the Romanian women's team defeated Greece 3-0 in the semi-finals and Turkey in the final, with the same score 3-0. In the men's category, Romania won the semi-finals 3-1 against Bulgaria, and the final against Turkey with the score 3-1. Today sees the start of the individual competitions at the Balkan Table Tennis Championships in Sarajevo . (LS)