Nicușor Dan, asked about the scenario of a Russian attack on the EU: “It's not news that we have to prepare. For the moment, my message is for people to stay calm”

President Nicușor Dan declared, at the beginning of the European Council meeting, when asked about the threat of a Russian attack on the European Union, that at the moment people should remain calm when it comes to this scenario because “we are much stronger economically than Russia”.

President Nicușor Dan is participating in the European Council meeting on Thursday, where the main topics include aid to Ukraine, sanctions and Russia's frozen assets.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of state was asked by the reporters present in Brussels about how Romania is preparing for the scenario of a Russian attack on Europe. In response, Nicușor Dan recalled that “we have had a hybrid war for at least 10 years, in my estimation, we have challenges that we see on the entire eastern border of the Union”.

The president also reiterated the need for preparation to deter Russia and reiterated that the sanctions packages are working:

“It's not news that we need to prepare, to equip ourselves to deter Russia from thinking about an attack on Europe. For now, my message is for people to stay calm because we are much stronger economically than Russia and that if we prepare, there is no such danger.”

Themes discussed at the European Council

The President explained that the discussions between the European leaders present at the Council will also focus on aid for Ukraine and on the frozen funds of the Russian Federation: “There is a discussion on how they can be used, where we can find money for Ukraine and there is a discussion on the frozen funds of Russia, to what extent they can guarantee some loans that go to Ukraine so that they no longer affect the European budget and the budget of the states members.”

Asked if Romania does not agree that the aid for the next two years for Ukraine should come from the national budgets, Nicușor Dan said that at the moment, the main option is Russia's frozen assets. “Until the Union budget of 2028, there should only be a guarantee of the member states on this money (n.ed. Russian assets)”, explained the president.