"The Black Sea region is essential for NATO's collective defense"

The Black Sea region is essential for the collective defense of NATO, for European security and for prosperity, declared, today, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu.

The head of Romanian diplomacy participates in an international conference on the security of the Black Sea region, in Bucharest.

The event is organized together with Ukraine and has the presence of over 250 representatives from 30 countries, both in physical and online format.

Solidarity with Ukraine was another point of the speeches delivered so far during the conference.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, pleaded for a strategic commitment of the European Union and NATO in the Black Sea region. The head of Romanian diplomacy also reiterated our Romania's support for Ukraine.

"This event is yet another proof that Romania stands in solidarity with Ukraine and, like the whole world, observes the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression. We mourn all the time the victims of the war started by Russia and we must insist that those guilty answer what they committed."

Defense Minister Angel Tilvar also spoke about Romania's solidarity with Ukraine: "Romania has been with its friend and partner since the first day. Russia failed to divide us, failing in its military goals as well. We will remain with Ukraine as much as necessary. After more than a year of war, if we look at the situation on the front, we see that Russia is trying to hold illegally occupied territories, and Ukraine is making progress in liberating the occupied zones. After a year, it managed to get remarkable successes on the line of war."

In a video intervention, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba stated that real peace means recovering Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.

Initially expected in Bucharest, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, could not make the trip, due to the latest developments related to the war in his country. However, he participated in an online conference.

Also today, the second meeting of the Trilateral Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova will take place, at the level of foreign ministries.

Translated by: Radu Matei