-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Romanian President Nicușor Dan met in Bucharest on March 12, to sign a series of documents focused on joint defense production and strategic cooperation.
The ceremony, which was broadcast by the Office of the President of Ukraine, marked a significant shift in the relationship between the two neighboring countries, according to the Ukrainian outlet NV.
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During a joint press conference, President Nicușor Dan confirmed that one of the primary agreements involves the production of unmanned aerial vehicles.
“We talked about our cooperation in the military sphere, and one of the signed documents concerns specifically the joint production of drones in Romania,” Dan stated. He also noted that the two nations signed a declaration to partner in the energy sector.
President Zelenskyy emphasized that the new agreements reflect the depth of the current relationship. He remarked that Ukraine and Romania “truly deserve a meaningful strategic partnership,” noting that this commitment is now officially recorded in the signed treaty.
The Romanian leader addressed the historical context of the relationship, noting how much has changed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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As part of the visit, the Romanian President invited Zelenskyy to attend the Bucharest Nine summit scheduled for May. This group includes Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The upcoming meeting in the Romanian capital is expected to further address regional security and cooperation.
“Historically, there was a certain kind of mistrust between our countries, but this mistrust was removed at the moment when the war began in 2022. Now our two countries trust each other in what they will do next, and commit to acting together in this part of Europe,” Dan said.
The Romanian Supreme Council of National Defense, led by President Nicușor Dan, approved a strategic request from the United States to utilize Romanian airbases for military operations.
This agreement allowed for the temporary deployment of American troops, fighter jets, and specialized hardware, including satellite monitoring systems and refueling aircraft, specifically at the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase near the Black Sea coast.
The decision followed a refusal by Spain to grant similar access and was seen as a critical step in providing a cost-effective defense against drone threats in the region.
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-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
