Stakes have never been this high in Romania's post-communist history, as Romanians voted in a crucial and polarised presidential election runoff on Sunday, in which centrist Nicușor Dan faced nationalist George Simion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Nicușor Dan on his victory in Romania’s presidential election, according to Zelenskyy’s page on the social network X. The head of state congratulated Dan on his "historic victory in Romania’s presidential elections.

“Congratulations Nicușor Dan! Long live free Romania,” exulted center-right Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose party candidate also won a narrow election victory Sunday night in Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also thrilled by the outcome, as Dan promises to keep Romania on its pro-EU, pro-NATO pathway.