Liam Nolan

Eastern Europe Reporter

George Simion shown on screen addressing supporters after polls closed in the first round of voting in the election

Is Romania's far-right party leader set to be president?

It was not surprising that George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, topped the first-round vote of Romania's rerun presidential election yesterday.

Analysis and Comment • 05 May 25

Călin Georgescu's anti-establishment messages had resonated with many young male and rural voters

Was it fair to rerun Romania's presidential election?

On Sunday, Romanians will vote for a second time in six months to elect their country's new president. This second election takes place after an unprecedented decision by Romania's top court to annul the previous vote over suspected campaign irregularities. Was it democratically fair to rerun it?

Clarity • 02 May 25

A view of the aftermath of a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 22 April

Can a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal be agreed this week?

Warnings from the Trump administration that it is prepared to walk away from brokering a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine have pushed the Kremlin to consider direct talks with Kyiv. Can a ceasefire deal be reached this week?

Analysis and Comment • 23 Apr 25

Germany's long-standing support for Israel goes some way to explaining the country's robust policing of rallies since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war

Why Germany robustly polices pro-Palestinian protests

Last month Berlin authorities issued deportation orders to two Irish citizens for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests. Germany's long-standing support for Israel goes some way to explaining the country's robust policing of rallies since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war.

Analysis and Comment • 21 Apr 25

Russia's defence ministry said it had targeted meetings of Ukrainian military officials in Sumy which could not be independently verified

Is Russia mocking US peace efforts in Ukraine?

Despite US led ceasefire talks, Russian forces have killed scores of Ukrainian civilians in missile attacks on two Ukrainian cities over the past two weekends. RTÉ's Eastern Europe Reporter Liam Nolan looks at how serious Russia is about engaging in US peace efforts to end the war?

Analysis and Comment • 15 Apr 25

Andrzej Domański said the aim of Poland's presidency of the Council of the European Union was to finalise work on the ReArm Europe plan 'urgently' (file image)

Defence plan priority for Poland's EU Council presidency

Poland's finance minister has said that the European Commission's ReArm Europe defence plan is now a top priority for his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union.

World • 12 Apr 25

Micheál Martin said Ireland was facing 'turbulent times'

EU must remain calm with turbulent times ahead - Martin

The EU must remain calm amid the chaos and confusion surrounding the bloc's trading relationship with the US, the Taoiseach has said.

Business • 12 Apr 25

Paschal Donohoe said that 'we remain united to a rules-based way of trading with each other'

US tariffs pause 'creates space for negotiations' - EU

European finance ministers have agreed on the "need for a unified stance" on US trade tariffs.

Business • 11 Apr 25

Andrius Kubilius was speaking in Warsaw at the start of a two-day informal meeting of EU defence chiefs

We can 'prevent war and preserve peace' - defence chief

European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius has said that "an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us", using a phrase normally reserved for NATO member states and Article 5 of the military alliance's founding treaty.

Europe • 02 Apr 25

Demonstrators protesting against the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu block a boulevard in the Turkish capital Ankara on 22 March

What next for Turkey's opposition protests?

Opposition protests calling for the release of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, arrested on alleged charges of corruption and supporting terrorism, have continued for ten days. Do the protests have the momentum to continue?

World • 29 Mar 25