On Thursday, December 11, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha took part online in the forum “Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Opportunities, Investments”, which is taking place in Bucharest under the patronage of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Romania.
“It is necessary to restore the security of the Black Sea as an integral part of the security architecture of Europe,” the Minister said in his speech.
The Minister informed about the progress of peace efforts, while drawing attention to the constant Russian terror against Ukrainians in the winter period, shelling of Ukrainian cities and port infrastructure.
The Foreign Minister spoke about yesterday’s round of negotiations between the Ukrainian side and American partners, during which the parties discussed long-term economic projects that should bring prosperity to Ukraine and the entire region. He expressed gratitude to the United States for its leadership in the peace process and to European partners for their support for Ukraine.
“Today, everyone realizes that security is the cornerstone. There is no economy and prosperity without security. We share this vision with Europe,” - Andrii Sybiha noted.
The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to his colleague Oana Tsoi and the Romanian side for the support of our state and emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership between Ukraine and Romania. He added that since the ministerial meeting of the Odessa Triangle countries - Ukraine, Romania and Moldova - in August this year, real results have been achieved, in particular, launching a direct train from Kyiv to Bucharest and developing border infrastructure.
“When it comes to the European Union, it is important that Ukraine and Moldova move forward together along this path - towards full membership of both countries,” - the minister emphasized.
Andrii Sybiha recalled the real results of the Odessa Triangle in international organizations. Thus, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania were elected to the UNESCO Executive Board, while Russia did not receive support.
Emphasizing the important role of the Danube in the development of bilateral relations with Romania, the Foreign Minister noted: “The Danube has always been a symbol of good neighborliness between Ukraine and Romania. And since the beginning of the Russian invasion, it has also become a symbol of our strategic partnership.”
The Minister drew attention to the systematic violation of the airspace of Romania and Moldova by Russian drones. He emphasized that the Russian Federation’s hybrid war in Europe is becoming much less “hybrid” and more and more a war.
“When a Russian drone flies dozens of kilometers deep into Romania and spends almost an hour in the airspace of Romania or Moldova, this is not a mistake. This is a deliberate attack. This is an escalation, a provocation and a test,” he emphasized.
Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine has a unique experience in countering massive drone attacks and is already contributing to ensuring European security.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine is a test of whether the free world has learned the lessons of the past. There must be an absolutely clear understanding: we cannot allow Munich 2 or a new Yalta. This is not just a slogan. This is a moral compass for our collective security,” the minister emphasized.
The Foreign Minister noted that the Black Sea is a strategic artery that cannot be a “gray zone” of Russian influence. The minister separately noted Turkey’s role in guaranteeing Black Sea security, freedom of navigation and food exports.
“Our task is to guarantee that Russia will not start a new war tomorrow. This requires new security. Strong security guarantees, including our strong army and a deterrence package,” the minister emphasized.
According to the head of the diplomatic service, just as in the past there was a Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe, now a similar clear plan for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine is needed.
The Foreign Minister separately emphasized the possibilities for further development of cooperation between Ukraine and Romania in the development of renewable energy in the Black Sea region.