Paris hosts Ukraine summit
Romania rules out sending troops to Ukraine, interim president Ilie Bolojan reiterated on the sidelines of the summit in the French capital-city
Mihai Pelin, 28.03.2025, 14:00
At the summit hosted by Paris, representatives of countries that have expressed their willingness to help Ukraine held talks on the security and future of Europe. Continuing military, economic and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv, close coordination with the United States on all initiatives to restore peace in Europe, providing security guarantees for Ukraine, maintaining the political and economic sanctions imposed by EU states against Russia were the main points participants agreed upon. France and Great Britain, which created this so-called “coalition of the willing”, continue to insist on the creation of a force made up of European soldiers to provide security guarantees on Ukrainian territory at the end of the war. Some of the leaders attending the summit have refused to subscribe to this initiative, while others are yet to provide an answer. These troops will not be combatants, will not be placed on the frontline, will not replace Ukrainian soldiers and will not have a peacekeeping role – French president Emmanuel Macron pointed out, referring to them as a “reassurance force”. European countries are determined to support the Ukrainian army in the long term, which would become Europe’s first line of defense, able to prevent Russian aggression from further expanding to the continent. A French-British delegation will be sent to Ukraine to participate in the preparation of the future training of the Ukrainian army, Emmanuel Macron also announced. Attending the summit in Paris, Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, said our country will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to fend off the Russian aggression. Conversely, no Romanian troops will be deployed to the territory of the ex-Soviet republic, a decision taken at political level, after consulting the parliamentary parties, Ilie Bolojan said.
“Romania has a strategic interest in continuing to support Ukraine, because without this support there is a risk of the front collapsing. Practically, by defending their citizens and territory, the Ukrainians are keeping the threat at bay. Any kind of situation whereby Ukraine falls would spell major complications and an advance towards the western area, which neither Europe nor Romania wants. Another topic that was discussed refers to the peacekeeping forces and, from this point of view, as I’ve said before and let me be clear: Romania will not send any Romanian military personnel to Ukraine”.
Leaders gathered in Paris also agreed on the urgent need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, and the Romanian interim president did not rule out the possibility that further NATO forces might soon arrive in our country. Romania will also take part in the task force created to monitor compliance with the recent ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea. (VP)
