Security guarantees for Ukraine?
The European leaders are taking the first steps towards establishing solid security guarantees for Ukraine.
Daniela Budu, 20.08.2025, 14:00
Romania will contribute to providing solid security guarantees for Ukraine, which will be implemented through close cooperation between Europe and the US, President Nicușor Dan said on Tuesday after having participated online in the Coalition of the Willing and the European Council meetings. In a post on a social network, the head of state stressed that this is an investment in the security of Europe, not just Ukraine. According to Nicușor Dan, the involvement of the US President Donald Trump in a peace agreement for Ukraine ‘is essential’, and any peace must be just and lasting, with Europe’s role also being ‘crucial’. Nicușor Dan stressed the importance of transatlantic coordination, an element that ‘remains the strongest advantage’ in deterring Moscow’s aggression, and the fact that Russia must stop killing civilians if it is truly committed to achieving peace. The head of state also said that sanctions must be maintained and, if necessary, even intensified until a peace agreement is reached. ‘We must ensure the immediate return of all abducted Ukrainian children – Romania will continue to support this effort,’ Nicuşor Dan said.
After participating in the two video conferences, Nicușor Dan said that a series of conclusions were formulated, one being that the United States is interested in the war in Ukraine and in the security of Europe, which is a very good thing, and the second conclusion was that we are much closer to a tripartite meeting between the US – Ukraine – Russia. “The third conclusion is that the Western world is united on this subject, in the sense that it is a war of aggression, that Ukraine is the victim in this war”. According to him, “fighting for peace means respecting the international order”. He recalled that in recent days a series of meetings have taken place that preceded the discussions that the American president had, on Monday, with the Ukrainian one, Volodymyr Zelensky, and with the European leaders. ‘It was seen that Europe is united and that all seven European leaders who were there spoke in one voice: pressure on organizing this tripartite meeting’, Nicușor Dan also stated. When the war ends, president Dan added, there are discussions between Western countries, including the United States, regarding a long-term peace.
On the other hand, the Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu had a discussion on Monday with the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, ‘to align efforts for peace, as well as the next steps at the European level. ‘For Romania, ensuring a long-lasting peace, and not just an indefinite pause in the war, as well as the implications for the Black Sea are essential in this process. We support a strong, common voice of the Coalition of the Willing’, the head of Romanian diplomacy stated. All the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing states reconfirmed their support for Ukraine on Tuesday. And the President of the European Council, António Costa, stressed that the main security guarantee for Kyiv must be that Ukraine has armed forces capable of defending its sovereignty. The European leader added that the priorities are to stop the massacres, advance the prisoner exchange and ensure the return to Ukraine of thousands of children abducted by Russia. At the same time, he says, the process of Kyiv’s accession to the European Union must advance and Europe must be part of any peace negotiations, alongside Ukraine, Russia and the US, as its security is also at stake. (LS)
