Romanian Far-Right MEP Threatens Physical Harm to Zelensky Over Parliament Speech

Romanian far-right Member of the European Parliament Diana Șoșoacă has publicly threatened Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating she would "break his legs" if he attempted to speak in the Romanian parliament. During a visit to Moscow at an event hosted by the International Association "Friends of Russia," Șoșoacă reiterated her stance, recalling her disruption of Zelensky's speech in Bucharest in October 2023 and accusing Ukraine of oppressing ethnic Romanians by banning their language and Orthodox practices. She framed her threat as a defense of Romanian sovereignty, claiming only Romanian parliamentarians represent the Romanian people. Șoșoacă is known for her pro-Russian views, opposition to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, and calls to redraw borders to include territories she claims historically Romanian. Her nationalist and Eurosceptic rhetoric has gained attention, particularly for her criticism of EU support for Ukraine and demands to remove NATO bases from Romania. These statements and her visit to Russia underscore ongoing tensions involving Romanian far-right politics, Ukrainian relations, and regional geopolitical disputes.