Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu underscored in Copenhagen, at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Gymnich format, the need to strengthen support for Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) reported.

The discussions on Friday and Saturday focused on consolidating support for Ukraine to reinforce its negotiating position for a just and lasting peace, as well as on ways to weaken Russia’s capacity to continue its war of aggression, MAE noted.

Participants also explored solutions to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Enhancing the EU’s international influence via a more effective decision-making process was another key objective of the discussions.

Minister Toiu condemned Russia’s recent attacks in Ukraine, which resulted in new civilian casualties, including children, and caused damage to the EU Delegation’s office in Kyiv, highlighting that ‘Russia acts duplicitously and does not pursue peace or an end to the war.’ She also stressed the need to prioritize security in the Danube and Black Sea regions in light of Russia’s latest aggressions, underscoring their strategic importance for European security.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy welcomed the continued efforts of the EU and the US toward achieving a just and durable peace in Ukraine, highlighting the need for strong security guarantees for Kyiv, which are equally relevant to European and Black Sea security. She called for further limiting Russia’s ability to finance the war, tightening sanctions, and combating their circumvention, including by third parties, while advocating for increased EU support to Ukraine and the strengthening of its armed forces.

She voiced support for advancing the EU accession process of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine by opening negotiations on the ‘fundamentals’ cluster, describing this as a natural recognition of the progress made by the two candidate states. In this context, she presented the conclusions of the trilateral meeting in Chernivtsi in the Odesa format (Romania-Republic of Moldova-Ukraine), which outlined next steps for European and national investments in connectivity — an essential element for boosting resilience and regional interconnection. She also backed accelerating enlargement in the Western Balkans.

On developments in the Middle East, the Romanian foreign affairs minister expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reaffirmed Romania’s readiness to continue flights transferring pediatric patients. She called for increased humanitarian assistance to civilians and stressed the immediate need for the release of all Israeli hostages, reiterating Romania’s support for a two-state solution.

Minister Toiu further underlined that Iran’s nuclear program violates its international obligations, stressing the importance of transparent and honest communication by Tehran with international partners. She said the EU must remain united and back the positions of the E3 group.

On EU working methods, she argued for strengthening the Union’s international footprint by increasing efficiency and solidarity in decision-making, including within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Minister Toiu confirmed that Romania will coordinate with European partners in preparing for the upcoming UN General Assembly high-level session this autumn. Romania also supported the joint request of all 27 EU member states for ensuring visas for diplomats to attend the UNGA in New York. She stressed that a durable peace in the Middle East requires both Israel and Palestine to be at the negotiating table.

On the margins of Gymnich, Minister Toiu had bilateral meetings with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár. Talks with Valtonen highlighted the shared commitment to continue support for Ukraine and Moldova, including their EU accession process. The Romanian minister also emphasized the importance of Romanian – Finnish cooperation within NATO.

Her exchange with the Slovak minister reflected a joint will to deepen political dialogue and economic and sectoral ties. She highlighted the importance of the Romanian community in Slovakia and the Slovak minority in Romania.

Minister Toiu also met with members of the Romanian community in Denmark, thanking Romanian associations for their role in promoting national culture and traditions. Discussions focused on the challenges faced by Romanians in Denmark, with a view to finding appropriate solutions at the MAE level.

AGERPRES