Oana Țoiu explains Romania’s vote for the new world map at the UN: “Crimea will always be in Ukraine”

Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu explained on September 7, 2026, why Romania voted for the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on more accurate representations of the world on maps. She stressed that “maps should always be accurate” and stated that “Crimea will always be in Ukraine.”

The resolution encourages states and institutions to gradually move away from the widely used Mercator projection because it distorts the sizes of continents. The new representation more accurately reflects the size of Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, while France, the United States, and Russia appear smaller than on traditional maps.

The document was supported by 164 countries. The United States voted against it, while six other states abstained. The resolution is not binding, but it may influence school textbooks, official materials, and digital platforms over time.

Ukraine did not support the initiative because the map depicts Crimea, which is under Russian occupation, as separate from Ukrainian territory. The Republic of Moldova abstained, citing solidarity with Ukraine. France has already announced that it will officially abandon the Mercator projection.