A roundup of domestic and international news
Ukraine. Kiev says it wants to discuss with Moscow a ceasefire, a truce and the opening of humanitarian corridors, but will make no concessions on the country's territorial integrity. Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova has stated that Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine to prevent further bloodshed. The Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reaffirmed in talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Russia's main goals are the demilitarization and neutrality of Ukraine. On the ground, Russian troops continued to bomb residential neighborhoods in big Ukrainian cities and stepped up efforts to occupy the capital, Kyiv. The UN confirmed on Thursday that 249 civilians had been killed and more than 550 injured in Ukraine in the first week of the conflict following. Ukrainian authorities have announced their own death toll, saying that at least 2000 civilians have been killed because of the Russian invasion. The International Criminal Court has announced the immediate start of an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, where war crimes have been allegedly committed, after receiving a green light from 39 states, including Romania. Ukraine has not signed the Rome Statute, the international treaty establishing the ICC, but has officially recognized the Court's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory.
Aid. Romanian president Klaus Iohannis had talks in Bucharest on Thursday with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen about intensifying humanitarian support for neighboring Ukraine. The president said efforts were under way to make a logistical hub operational in Romania as soon as possible, to coordinate the collection and delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, with Romania also planning to access EU funds for the management of the huge inflow of refugees. The Commission president said Romania was an example for the entire world in the way it mobilized itself to help Ukrainian refugees. Also on Thursday, the Romanian President received the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. The two officials discussed support for the Ukrainian refugees, but also for the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, which is faced with a huge inflow of refugees as well. Filippo Grandi hailed Romanian authorities' rapid response and the efforts made to properly manage the exceptional situation triggered by the Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge.
Refugees. EU interior ministers met in Brussels on Thursday and decided to grant the refugees from Ukraine temporary protection in the EU, said the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Yiva Johansson. She didn't say if the measure applies to the refugees that are not Ukrainian citizen. In principle, Ukrainian citizens and residents in Ukraine, as well as their family members displaced because of the conflict, will be eligible for protection in the EU. Non-Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons legally residing in Ukraine who cannot return to their country or region of origin, as well as asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection and their family members will also receive protection in the Union. The other persons, who are in Ukraine for a short stay and who can return safely to their countries of origin, are not covered by this temporary protection in the Community bloc. However, they should be allowed access to the Union for transit to their countries of origin.According to the United Nations, one million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, most of them to neighboring states Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
Cooperation. The prime ministers of Romania and Poland condemned the illegal aggression of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said in Warsaw on Thursday, at the end of the joint meeting of the Romanian and Polish Governments. Nicolae Ciucă stated that the two countries discussed providing together the necessary support for the big wave of refugees coming to both Romania and Poland. Romania's prime minister announced that Poland would join the NATO forces defending the eastern flank. "We already have measures that we have carried out together, there is a Polish military structure that is part of the Multinational Brigade in Romania, we have a structure that is part of the combat group that is present on Polish territory," Nicolae said. In turn, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland and Romania were doing everything for peaceful coexistence, agreeing on all diplomatic and political actions. The two prime ministers have decided to support the EU accession of Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Chisinau. The President of the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, mostly Romanian-speaking), Maia Sandu, signed the application for EU membership on Thursday. Maia Sandu stated that the application for accession to the EU bloc is addressed to Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, the country that is holding the rotating presidency the Council of the European Union, and that it will be filed in Brussels in the coming days. "The Republic of Moldova must have a clear European path. We are ready to do everything to achieve this fundamental national goal" , said Maia Sandu. Also on Thursday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed a petition for the start of the special procedure for recognizing his country as a candidate for EU accession. A similar decision was taken by Ukraine a few days ago in the context of the Russian invasion of its territory.
Crash. Prosecutors with the Military Prosecutor's Office have opened an criminal investigation into the crashing of two planes in the south-east of the country, which resulted in the death of eight people. The pilot of a Romanian MiG 21 LanceR military plane and seven soldiers sent to find him, in a search and rescue operation, with an IAR 330-Puma helicopter, lost their lives on Wednesday evening. Their aircraft were involved in separate accidents. The MiG plane was on an air patrol when it disappeared from the radar, in southeastern Romania. The pilot of the IAR 330-Puma helicopter, sent to find him, reported unfavorable weather and was recalled to the base before crashing, the Ministry of Defense said. Romania, a member of NATO, currently has less than two full squadrons of LanceR MiG-21 fighter jets operational, along with the 17 newly equipped F-16 aircraft for its own air and combat police missions. Originally from the Soviet Union, the MiG-21 had been in service for over 40 years and was upgraded about 20 years ago. IAR 330-Puma helicopters have also been flying for almost 40 years, being modernized in recent years.
Covid-19. On Thursday Romania reported almost 6,000 new Covid infections and 114 new related fatalities, including nine from an earlier date. 850 Covid patients are in intensive care. Romanian health minister Alexandru Rafila proposed easing some of the restrictions, such as no longer wearing face masks outdoors, no longer requiring the Covid certificate to enter shops, hotels, restaurants and public institutions, allowing cinemas and performance and sports venues to host more spectators and expanding the maximum number of people allowed to attend private events. (MI)
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