Video Address to Romanian Envoys
Speaking via video link as an honorary guest at the annual conference of Romanian ambassadors in Bucharest, Ukraine's top diplomat Andrii Sybiha underscored the importance of strategic partnership between Kyiv and Bucharest. He cited security, energy, trade, and regional cooperation as the mainstays of that relationship, adding that both countries share the urgent goal of restoring peace. He also drew attention to the need for safe Black Sea navigation and pointed to the Odesa Triangle and the Vertical Corridor as promising vehicles for practical cooperation.
Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova: Working Together
Expressing gratitude to Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu for the invitation and for her efforts in coordinating shared initiatives, Sybiha noted that Romania was the first nation with which Ukraine chose to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership level during the full-scale conflict.
"Our shared priority is the fastest possible restoration of peace. We greatly value Romania's principled position here," he said.
The trilateral format involving Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova is making headway through the Odesa Triangle initiative, which delivers concrete benefits in:
- trade
- transport
- energy
- connectivity
At the same time, work is advancing on the Vertical Corridor, a project designed to diversify supply routes, reinforce energy security, and bring Ukraine closer to the European energy market. Sybiha stressed that Black Sea shipping must be freed from Russia's attempts to blockade Ukrainian ports.
Looking ahead, Ukraine will assume the chairmanship of the Central European Initiative from Romania in 2027. Sybiha also proposed a new framework, the Carpathian Integration Initiative, and said he hopes Romania will be among its founding states. In a separate gesture of neighborly ties, Ukraine has established a Day of the Romanian Language and continues to protect the rights of the Romanian national minority.
"I thank Oana Țoiu for our effective interaction—an interaction where we negotiate, act, and get results. That is the essence of strategic partnership," the minister concluded.
Sybiha's speech highlights how deeply Ukraine and Romania's partnership now extends into security and economic areas, especially given global instability. The Odesa Triangle and the Vertical Corridor, in particular, hold the potential to strengthen regional stability and energy security at a time of heightened Russian threats. These collaborative efforts serve both the goal of restoring peace and Ukraine's broader integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.