A joint statement was issued after the Romania-Ukraine-Moldova trilateral meeting on security issues. The document calls for strengthening cooperation of the three countries in combating the effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The declaration also underlines the commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine within their internationally recognized borders. Officials from the three states strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine and reiterated the need for all those responsible to be held accountable in accordance with international law and based on the instruments of international law.

The declaration was signed by Nicu Popescu, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and also Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration; Bogdan Aurescu, Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Emine Dzapharova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; but also by the respective ministers of defense: Anatolie Nosatîi, Angel Tîlvăr and Oleksii Reznikov.

“The document focuses on developing our strong relations between the three countries in highly relevant areas. Political and economic areas, infrastructure, defense, security, culture. And it underlines, obviously, that we have similar visions for the Black Sea to be stable and secure. We also express our desire for our cooperation to strengthen, including in terms of combating the effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as in terms of combating Russian propaganda, disinformation and strengthening our resilience”, noted the Romanian minister, Bogdan Aurescu.

The trilateral declaration reiterates the fact that the Black Sea is an important region of strategic interest for the security of the region, as well as for the security of the Euro-Atlantic space as a whole. “Also, we emphasize in this declaration the importance that this year, both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova obtain the opening of accession negotiations in order to become member states of the European Union with full rights”, said Bogdan Aurescu.

“Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are not alone. On the contrary, we are in solidarity, we respond concretely, in a coordinated manner, both individually and within the framework of the European Union and NATO. Romania will continue to be in solidarity with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova as long as it is necessary”, the Romanian foreign minister said.

For his part, Nicu Popescu declared that after the first trilateral meeting, which took place in September in Odesa, today the dialogue takes a new dimension through substantial discussions on security and defense issues. “The existing regional situation caused by the brutal aggression against Ukraine has further highlighted the importance of the Black Sea region. In this dramatic regional context, the Republic of Moldova stands by Ukraine”, noted Nicu Popescu.

According to him, the ministers also discussed the importance of transport routes and commercial infrastructure in the Black Sea region, a very important region for global food security. “We must do everything we can to further facilitate food and grain exports to global markets. Also, today I emphasized the fact that the Republic of Moldova is not threatened militarily. This fact is due to the resistance capacity and resilience of the Ukrainian state, the Ukrainian society, the Ukrainian army”, Nicu Popescu added, stating that today Ukraine defends the Republic of Moldova from risks of destabilization and aggression.

Emine Dzapharova stated that this war of the Russian Federation is going on for thousands of square kilometers in the middle of Europe, traumatizing the whole world. It is very painful to know that millions of Ukrainians have become refugees, thousands of people have been killed, destruction is taking place. Emine Dzapharova added that states must be firmer when it comes to isolating and sanctioning the Russian Federation, and all acts committed by Russia must be tried by an international tribunal.

Romania-Ukraine-Moldova trilateral meeting on security issues is being held in Bucharest. In parallel, the first Black Sea Security Conference is held under the auspices of the Crimea International Platform.