Romania will continue to support Ukraine „as before, with all our openness, might and capacities, on all levels,” Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday in Odesa, where the first Trilateral meeting of the Romanian , Ukrainian and Moldovan chief diplomats took place, according to Agerpres.

„We obviously discussed the security state of play and we took a bow to the courage and heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people. We have seen the latest good news from the frontline. It is essential that this war of aggression ends with the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty over its entire territory. I say now, with the same conviction, what I have said all along: I am absolutely convinced that Ukraine will win. Romania has been with the Ukrainian people and Ukraine from the first moment, and we will continue to support Ukraine as before, with all our openness, might and capacities, on all levels,” Aurescu is quoted as saying in a press statement released by the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).

He added that, since the start of the Russian aggression, almost 4 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine have been exported through Romania to third markets, and requests for the transit of Ukrainian grain through Romania continue to grow.

According to Aurescu, the discussions in Odesa focused on observing the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, including the Romanian community in Ukraine.

„Ethnic Romanians in Ukraine are loyal and faithful citizens of the Ukrainian state, who joined at the beginning of the Russian aggression and unreservedly supported the entire war effort. Therefore, I emphasised the importance of respecting the identity rights of Ukrainian citizens of Romanian origin, including based on the statement of Mr President Zelenskiy, who said in April that the Romanians in Ukraine will enjoy the same level of protection as the Ukrainians do in Romania.”

He added that he reconfirmed having requested Ukraine again that, starting from the recognition of the identity between the Romanian language and the so-called Moldovan language, confirmed in April 2021 by the Ukrainian side, the non-existence of the so-called Moldovan language should be recognised.

At the same time, he repeated the call of the international community to Russia, „to stop the irresponsible behaviour regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant”.

„It is necessary to demilitarise the area around the nuclear power plant and for Ukraine to resume control of the power plant,” said Aurescu.

Agerpres