President Zelenskyy establishes Romanian Language Day in Ukraine during historic 2026 visit to Bucharest
In a landmark move for regional diplomacy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially established Romanian Language Day in Ukraine. The holiday will be celebrated annually on August 31, aligning with the national traditions of both Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Despre intenția de a sărbători limba română în Ucraina președintele Zelenski a anunțat la conferința de presă din cadrul vizitei sale la București, din 12 martie, alături de președintele României, Nicușor Dan.
„În dezvoltarea cooperării noastre umanitare și culturale, precum și în spiritul respectului dintre popoarele noastre, am semnat decretul privind instituirea în Ucraina a Zilei Limbii Române. În fiecare an, aceasta va fi marcată pe 31 august”, a declarat Zelenski.
The decree was signed during President Zelenskyy’s official visit to Bucharest on March 12, 2026, where he was received at the Cotroceni Palace by Romanian President Nicușor Dan. This visit marks a turning point in bilateral relations, moving beyond symbolic gestures toward a robust strategic alliance.
"In the spirit of mutual respect between our peoples, I have signed the decree to honor the Romanian language in Ukraine," Zelenskyy stated during a joint press conference. He highlighted that this decision mirrors Romania’s long-standing tradition of celebrating Ukrainian Language Day on November 9.
President Nicușor Dan and his Ukrainian counterpart also formalized a strategic partnership focused on regional security. A key pillar of this agreement is the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), supported by European Union financing. Additionally, the two nations will integrate energy efforts to counter persistent infrastructure threats.
The diplomatic breakthrough was welcomed by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who noted that the Romanian language now serves as a cultural bridge spanning "from the Prut River to Chernivtsi."
On the military front, Romania continues to solidify its support through the PURL program for American weaponry. The Romanian government has earmarked €50 million (approx. 987,500,000 MDL) for this initiative in the 2026 fiscal year, underscoring its commitment to European security.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
