Romania’s president in Kyiv

Klaus Iohannis went to Kyiv together with leaders from France, Germany and Italy

Roxana Vasile, 17.06.2022, 14:00

A historic day for Ukraine; this is how President Volodymyr Zelensky described Thursday’s visit to Kyiv of four European officials: the French and Romanian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Klaus Iohannis, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. There have been several high-level visits since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24, including from Romania, but there has never been such a coordination at the level of several European countries.

Ukraine enjoys the support of four strong states in the European Union, Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that his country is now closer to the EU bloc than ever before. Emmanuel Macron, Klaus Iohannis, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi announced that they supported the immediate granting of the status of EU candidate for Ukraine and that they would continue to support Kiev with funds and weapons to help it deal with the Russian invasion.

There was also talk of reconstruction efforts after the end of the war. And from a Romanian perspective, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania will actively participate in facilitating the transit of grain exports from Ukraine. According to him, since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Port of Constanta has ensured the transit of over 1 million tons of grain from Ukraine.

Efforts are being made for the opening of new border crossing points, as well as for the rehabilitation of the broad-gauge railway lines on the Romanian territory. In addition, Romania calls for the involvement of all relevant players in agreeing on a coalition of states to support the international effort to create blue corridors for safe maritime transport through the Black Sea, the Romanian president pointed out.

Romania, as a neighbor and reliable partner, but also as a member state of the European Union and NATO with the longest border with Ukraine, is fully in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, Klaus Iohannis also stressed in Kyiv. Romania’s support for Ukraine – he recalled – has focused on multiple levels. The Romanian government and citizens have come to the aid of more than 1.2 million refugees, mostly women and children. Mechanisms have been put in place to meet the education and labor market needs of those who want them.

An international hub for the distribution of humanitarian assistance operates at maximum capacity in Suceava, northeastern Romania. Russia’s premeditated, unjustified, unprovoked and illegal aggression must stop, said the Romanian president, in whose vision Europe is at a turning point in its history, and extraordinary times require extraordinary strategic and visionary responses. Therefore, granting the status of EU accession candidate to Ukraine, but also to the neighboring Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova and to Georgia is essential in building a strong and lasting shield around the common European values, Klaus Iohannis also said. (MI)