Romania should be compensated for aiding Ukraine, hard-right presidential frontrunner says

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's hard-right presidential frontrunner George Simion said in a televised debate that the EU and NATO state should be compensated for the aid it has provided to neighbouring Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia.

The eurosceptic nationalist swept the first round of the presidential ballot on Sunday, and an opinion survey earlier this week showed him leading ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

In a debate late on Thursday, Dan said that, should he be elected Romania's support for Ukraine would not waver as defending Kyiv meant protecting Romania from potential future Russian aggression.

Simion, 38, opposes military aid to Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

Analysts have said a Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Bucharest plays a key role in providing logistical support to Ukraine as it fights a three-year-old Russian invasion.

In the debate Dan, 55, a two-term mayor of Bucharest running as an independent centrist on an "Honest Romania" ticket, fully backed EU plans to arm itself, whereas Simion suggested he would veto Brussels military aid to Ukraine while saying Europe should depend on NATO for its own defence.

Romania's president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. The president can also veto important EU votes that require unanimity.

"I will vote for the interest of the Romanian state without prioritising other states," Simion said during the debate organised by television station Euronews Romania.

"Our position towards Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is one of neutrality not escalation, not supplying weapons, in alignment with the Trump administration."

Trump came to office promising a swift end to the war in Ukraine and on the campaign trail threatened to stop military aid to Kyiv. Despite a brief pause in February and the longer one that began in early March, the Trump administration has resumed sending the last of the aid approved under U.S. President Joe Biden. No new policy has been announced.

'JUST PEACE'

Simion said Romania should be compensated for the support it has given Ukraine once the rebuilding process starts.

"I don't know if that will be reflected in contracts for the rebuilding or in grains but ... for the donated Patriot system and other spending by Romanians there should be reciprocity."

To date, Romania has donated a Patriot air defence battery to Kyiv, is training Ukrainian fighter pilots and has enabled the export of 30 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta. The donated Patriot will be replaced by allies.

"For Ukraine to secure a just peace it needs the support of Western states, including Romania, and that is for our own security," Dan said.

He said that Romania must be fair to its Western partners, which are helping Ukraine against a war at Romania's borders and that it should also contribute if it wanted to take part in the future rebuilding.

He also fully backed European plans to prepare for a potential attack from Russia as EU governments seek to be less reliant on the United States for their security.

"To say that if you defend yourself means you want war is ... populism," Dan said. "No, you want to spend money and have a reformed army to prevent a war."

Under the ReArm Europe plan, the EU is looking to boost military spending by 800 billion euros ($876 billion) over the next four years, via loosening fiscal rules on defence investment and joint borrowing for large defence projects against the EU budget.

Simion said that "for defence we have NATO, not the EU".

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Alex Richardson)