Wires carrying comments from Călin Georgescu, the frontrunner in the presidential run-off election set to take place on Sunday 8 December. Georgescu, a far-right Russophile independent candidate, says that if elected he will bar Ukrainian grain exports transiting through Romania, and deny permission for the training of Ukrainian pilots in Romania or for the provision of military aid to Ukraine. Georgescu claims that 'allowing NATO states to send military aid via Romania is equivalent to taking part in the war'. 

• Georgescu's shock rise to prominence has caused significant unease in Kyiv and Brussels. Romania is building one of the largest air bases in NATO, has been a major supplier of military aid to Ukraine, and sits in a geostrategically important position holding a physical border with Ukraine along the Danube River. While the PM heads the gov't the president is commander-in-chief and has significant influence over foreign policy.
• Georgescu has said that he does not want Romania to withdraw from NATO or the EU, but that Romania has to "take a stance, not to kneel over there, not to take everything."
• On other topics, Georgescu questions the effectiveness of EU funds, saying 'there are other investors and funding sources'. The latter is likely to cause further concern in Brussels, with the potential that Georgescu is referring to China's Belt and Road Initiative.
• The small amount of polling carried out after the 24 Nov first round shows Georgescu leading in two surveys, with liberal-conservative challenger Elena Lasconi ahead in one.