Andrii Sybiha held talks in Kyiv with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu

On Thursday, August 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed his Romanian counterpart Oana Țoiu, who was paying her first bilateral visit to Ukraine as Romanian Foreign Minister.

The foreign ministers held detailed talks on a wide range of bilateral issues, including the economy, energy, transport, and infrastructure. Particular attention was paid to the further isolation of russia, increased investment in Ukrainian defense, and joint arms production.

“The world has no right to get used to russian aggression. The world must help Ukraine put an end to this aggression,” said the head of Ukraine's foreign policy department.

During the talks, the ministers focused separately on the development of cross-border cooperation, in particular the prospects for opening a new checkpoint Bila Tserkva - Sighetu Marmaţiei and the potential for developing a transport corridor from the Greek port city of Alexandroupolis to Odesa via Bulgaria and Romania.

Andrii Sybiga announced the launch of a direct rail connection between Kyiv and Bucharest, which would start in test mode that day.

The diplomats also discussed opportunities for diversifying gas supplies through the Trans-Balkan corridor, by which Ukraine recently received gas from Azerbaijan.

Andrii Sybiha and Oana Țoiu agreed that guaranteeing the rights of national minorities and communities is an unconditional priority and agreed to jointly counter hybrid threats from the russian federation.

“The Ukrainian-Romanian partnership is a guarantee of security and prosperity in our region,” emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister welcomed the establishment of a separate position of Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in the Romanian Government and emphasized the key role of bilateral cooperation in ensuring the security of the Black Sea and the Danube region.

Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Romania was the first country that Ukraine decided to elevate bilateral relations with to the level of strategic partnership after the start of the russian invasion. The diplomats agreed to work together to finalize the transition of Ukraine and Romania to a strategic partnership at the presidential level this year.

The Minister also announced that Ukraine planned to open a consulate in Sighetu Marmației by the end of the year.

Andrii Sybiha announced joint political consultations in Chernivtsi between Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Lithuania. According to the foreign minister, Ukraine and Moldova should jointly open the first clusters on the path to the European Union, and he emphasized that accession to the EU and NATO was a real guarantee of lasting peace.

“The path of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU is as indivisible as our security. This is in line with Romania's national interests,” he said.

Andrii Sybiha expressed his deep gratitude to Romania for providing military assistance, shelter to citizens during the war, and training pilots to protect Ukrainian airspace.