Three-way meeting in Odessa between Nicusor Dan (Romanian President), Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukrainian President), and Maia Sandu (Moldovan Prime Minister).
Romania's president, Nicusour Dan, graced the first trilateral powwow between Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine off the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit's sidelines in Odessa. The heated chat revolved around energy, logistics, and security connections, border synchronicity, hybrid menaces, and countering these threats.
Dan shared that this trilateral palaver symbolizes their unwavering determination to fortify the region's stability, security, and European trajectory.
Addressing the press, Dan said, "With Russia's conflict in Ukraine at lime's edge, it's crucial that we stand united — and today's summit is proof we are." (Digi24)
Zelensky, too, gave a heartfelt thanks to all the leaders and partners for gracing the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit in Odessa, interpreting it as a firm stance against Russia.
Zelensky asserted, "We've seen it since 2014, and Europe has seen it in 2022 — the security of Southeast Europe and the Black Sea are one, indivisible reality. Yet, we're still fighting not just for Ukraine but to make this truth the bedrock of our collective policy."
Moldova's leader, Maia Sandu, pointed out the crucial parliamentary elections in her nation, scheduled this year, emphasizing alliance between Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine equates to safety.
"When Chisinau, Kyiv, and Bucharest stand together, we build more than infrastructure or shared ventures. We can ensure the safety of our people, seed hope for a tranquil future, and chart a clear course toward a united, liberated, and democratic Europe."
Following the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit, leaders, including Dan and Sandu, criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine while dodging Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić's signature.
The joint declaration, issued by the Ukrainian presidency, voiced their "commitment to standing by Ukraine with all-around and lasting support" and implored "all countries to steer clear of siding with Russia's war machine."
It also demanded "Russia's entire troop withdrawal from Ukraine's territory" and backed Ukraine's bid for full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership, and reinforced sanctions against Moscow.
(Photo credit: Maia Sandu on Facebook)
Insight: The trilateral summit underscored the significance of strengthening collaborations in energy, logistics, and security to bolster the region's resilience, economic integration, and united response to hybrid threats. Energy cooperation discussions included Moldova's planned gas imports from Romania starting 2027, Romania backing Moldova's EU membership, logistics improvements like enhancing the Trans-Balkan Pipeline (TBP) corridor, and addressing common security challenges like hybrid threats, infodemics, and overall regional stability.
- The trilateral summit, centered around energy, logistics, and security connections, emphasizes the importance of strengthening collaborations in these areas to bolster the region's resilience, economic integration, and united response to hybrid threats.
- The joint declaration issued after the summit voices their commitment to standing by Ukraine with all-around and lasting support, implores "all countries to steer clear of siding with Russia's war machine," and demands "Russia's entire troop withdrawal from Ukraine's territory" as a vital step towards regional politics and conflict resolution.
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