Ukraine Officially Celebrates Romanian Language Day for the First Time, Marked in Chernivtsi and Odesa

KYIV — Ukraine officially observed “Romanian Language Day” for the first time on August 31, with special events held in Chernivtsi and Odesa to mark the occasion. The milestone is being hailed as a major diplomatic achievement, the result of a year of sustained efforts by the Romanian-speaking community.

The development fulfills commitments made under the “Chernivtsi Declaration,” signed on August 9, 2025, during a visit to Ukraine alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi. Following preparatory work by the presidential administration ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ presidents, Ukraine issued a presidential decree formally recognizing August 31 as Romanian Language Day.
Under the trilateral framework, the parties committed to official recognition and celebration of the day within Ukraine’s Romanian communities, protection of the linguistic and identity rights of ethnic Romanians in Ukraine, and direct dialogue between Bucharest, Kyiv, and Chișinău based on mutual respect and strong political will.
The statement described the Romanian language as a symbol of identity, culture, and collective memory, calling its open and proud celebration in Chernivtsi and Odesa a significant achievement for Romanian diplomacy and a natural step toward a united Europe that respects and protects cultural diversity and minority rights.
It further noted that this progress has been achieved amid the ongoing war, which continues to place pressure on the administration, and that fruitful dialogue between Romania and Ukraine on the matter continues, with both sides now set to jointly celebrate the day going forward.