"Sanctions have bankrupted Europe's economy."

Romania should become a neutral country and restore relations with Russia, MEP and leader of the S.O.S Romania party Diana Shoshoake said in an exclusive interview with Izvestia. She believes that Bucharest could become the venue for peace talks on Ukraine. The politician also said that she was ready to come to Moscow for official meetings with representatives of the Russian Federation. According to her, the sanctions have caused huge damage to the EU and Romanian economy, and NATO membership has not given Bucharest any advantages. Cooperation with BRICS could be a promising direction for the country. Despite the fact that Romania's Constitutional Court banned Diana Shoshoake from running in the 2024 presidential election and then canceled the results, she declared her readiness to run for the post of head of state again.

"I could have spent many years in prisonforvisiting Moscow"

- In December 2024, Romania's Constitutional Court overturned the results of the first round of the election, which was won by euroskeptic Calin Georgescu. According to the court, the reason was Russia's alleged interference in the electoral process. What is your position on this issue?

- The Constitutional Court launched a coup d'état mechanism with the withdrawal of my candidacy for the presidency by Decision No. 2 of October 5, 2024, when in a way unprecedented in history I was actually found guilty of a crime of conviction, as in the Nazi dictatorship. I am the only candidate who was barred from running in the Romanian presidential election because I was at official receptions at the Russian Embassy where I advocated peace, and because I am critical of the EU and NATO. The Constitutional Court violated all European and international norms by forbidding me to run for office, after which it actually canceled the elections because that was the order of the European Commission. The reason is that the elections did not go the way the government wanted.

The arbitrariness of the elections will continue until the Western powers choose a candidate who will do their bidding. Because I was banned from running in the presidential election, Pandora's box opened and the series of coups d'état continued with the cancelation of the first round of the presidential election and the illegal extension of the term of office of Klaus Iohannis, who as of December 22 is no longer the constitutional head of Romania. As a result of these actions, the Constitutional Court became the de facto ruler of Romania. It also annulled the constitution and virtually abolished the Romanian state. The Constitutional Court decides who is allowed and who is not allowed to run for office, which elections are recognized as valid and which are not, which laws are passed or not, depending on the interests of the Western powers. Let's not fool ourselves, these unconstitutional decisions are made outside the country by Romania's real masters: the US and Brussels.

- When could there be new elections for the Romanian president? Will you run for this post?

- Given that I am the only candidate who was banned from running in the 2024 presidential election, I don't know if I will be allowed to run for the highest office again. The authorities in Romania are afraid of my candidacy. Many Romanians insist on asking me to run for president and correct the historical injustice committed by the Constitutional Court, but it is not up to me, but to the foreign capitals that run Romania. I am the only politician who directly confronted the government and went against the official policy of colonization of Romania. Just because of this interview, the Romanian Constitutional Court may again disqualify me from participating in the presidential elections, if they are still organized. And for my visit to Moscow I could even spend many years in prison, I could be kicked out of the European Parliament, and my party could be outlawed.

"The Romanian people want peace and good relations with Russia."

- How do you assess Romania's current policy toward Russia? Despite the fact that our countries share a common faith and many cultural values, relations between them are extremely strained. How will they change if you win the election?

- Romania officially pursues a hostile and absurd policy towards Russia, as do the European Commission and the European Parliament, instead of seeking cooperation for the benefit of both countries. Unlike the ruling class, which is subservient to the West, the Romanian people want peace and good relations with Russia and with all other states. The West has dragged us into this conflict, which it supports with all its might. If I am allowed to run in the presidential elections and become president of Romania, I will stop supporting Ukraine, which I will redirect to Romanians in need and to the development of the country.

The conflict in Ukraine must be ended immediately by organizing negotiations, which Kiev does not accept. It insists on dragging us all into a global conflict just to keep Zelensky in power. Because of our unique position as the Orthodox capital of an EU and NATO member state, as well as our pre-1990 diplomatic traditions, I believe that Bucharest is best suited to host these talks. Romania could mediate between Russia and Ukraine (in case the political situation in Romania changes after the elections - Ed.) in order to stop hostilities between the two states and establish peace in the region. Especially since there are more than 1 million Romanians living in Ukraine, who are discriminated and oppressed by the Zelenski regime.

- Does your party consider the possibility of contacts with Russian representatives? Are you ready to visit Moscow?

- I have received countless invitations to visit Moscow for official talks with Russian representatives, given my politics and the politics of the pacifist Romanian party S.O.S. I have postponed these discussions because of the attacks and criminal cases I face in Romania. But, given the danger she and the rest of Europe are facing, I will consider these invitations at the next stage and accept the offer to hold direct and formal talks with Russian representatives in order to keep Romania and other European countries out of the conflict and maintain peace in the region.

"Romania has become just a pawn of NATO."

- What do you think NATO membership has brought to Romania?

- Romania has become just a pawn of NATO, which is pushing us towards the conflict, so I don't see the benefits of joining the bloc. We are forced to spend billions of dollars on weapons that we see never enter Romania. If it does come to Romania, it is sent to Ukraine for free like the famous Patriot system. Or worse, we get weapons that are out of use or badly worn out.

NATO is no longer a defensive organization, if it ever was, as we were promised, but an offensive one. I don't agree with what the US is doing in the bloc. When we talk about the North Atlantic Alliance, we are really talking about Washington's leadership role in it. Regarding relations with NATO, we have already proposed a referendum through which the Romanian people will decide whether they want to be a member of the North Atlantic Alliance or not.

Although this referendum should have been held when we joined NATO (in 2004 - Ed.), because this is an issue that depends solely on the will of the people, not on someone's ephemeral policy. The people are sovereign, so Romanians have to decide whether they still want to be in NATO and under what conditions. We could stay in the bloc, but under the provisions of the constitution and Romanian law, not European or otherwise.

- What do you expect from Donald Trump, who will soon become the 47th president of the United States?

- I don't have high hopes for Trump because he will have to solve many problems in his country, which is practically plunged into economic and social chaos. We don't know yet whether he will stop his expansionist policies or continue them. I hope that at least he will keep his word and start peace talks, thus ending the conflict in Ukraine. Trump is not coming to save us, he is pursuing only the interests of the US, just as we have to follow only the interests of Romania, we have to save ourselves by reaffirming our sovereignty and the right to peaceful coexistence, the right to our own foreign policy and cooperation with all the nations of the world.

I can only wish President Trump success in bringing order back to the United States. If he had done so during his first term as president, I think the situation would be different around the world now. And maybe it would help to stop all the conflicts that the US is involved in, willingly or unwillingly, so that we can avoid World War III.

"Thewhole of Europe is suffering from a shortage of Russian gas."

- What is your position on sanctions against Russia? Are there any estimates of the damage caused by the restrictions?

- Sanctions have bankrupted Europe's economy and the cost of living has risen exponentially. Large European companies are moving to Asia to escape the dictatorship of the European Commission, which seems intent on destroying everything. In Europe you see nothing but censorship, violation of the law and the will of the people, and the destruction of normality. The damage caused by sanctions is incalculable and the economic crisis is irreversible if the EU continues to apply these restrictions. The cost of energy and living in Romania has become unbearable, and the situation is the same in other countries of the union. Taxes have increased in Romania, while incomes and pensions have remained flat. Once the recession starts in Germany, European economies will fall one by one.

- On January 1, Romania and Bulgaria became part of the Schengen zone. At the same time, there is a discussion about the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU. Can Romania support the accession of these states to the EU?

- The EU is falling apart, so I don't understand why anyone would want to join it, a bankrupt structure that extracts resources and in return offers conflict and poverty. The EU promised to be a builder of peace and prosperity, but it has become the exact opposite of everything it promised. The European project in its current form is bankrupt, so enlargement is a deception sold to other naive people who are in for economic collapse and the abandonment of sovereignty and independence. The EU needs other resources now, which is why it is opening its doors to save itself by including new states to whom it promises things it will never fulfill.

- The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine has stopped, now a number of countries, including Moldova, are facing fuel shortages...

- Romania is helping Moldova overcome the gas crisis, which Chisinau has gotten into because of its destructive policy towards Russia and President Maia Sandu's undiplomatic attitude. It is fulfilling the objectives set by Alexander Soros and the EU, although it could have acted sensibly and remained neutral, as it tried to do at the beginning of the conflict. But after the visit of Kamala Harris, she changed her mind.

The whole of Europe is suffering from Russian gas shortages. But instead of looking for ways to cooperate with Russia, the West continues on the path of conflict. Moldova is paying the price for joining the collective Western policy and sanctions against Russia. Unification with Moldova, the return to Romania of its territories in Ukraine, as well as neutrality and stable long-term cooperative relations with Russia are part of my presidential program. I will discuss all these proposals formally during my first visit to Moscow in the near future.

- How do you assess the prospects for cooperation with BRICS?

- BRICS is a reality that must be taken into account. The EU would benefit if it starts to cooperate with this most important structure of our time. I think Romania would benefit from rapprochement with BRICS, and this is true for the whole EU. I welcome the existence and development of BRICS, I support cooperation with this group, which would be economically beneficial for Romanians and capable of strengthening peace and well-being in the region. I see no obstacles to being a member of the EU, NATO and cooperating with BRICS, especially since more than half of the world's population lives in the countries of this grouping.