Ukraine and Romania stand for establishment of flotilla under NATO auspices to enhance security in Black Sea region

In the course of the official visit to Romania, President Petro Poroshenko noted that in conditions of lasting aggression of Russia, Ukraine and Romania paid special attention to the security situation in the Black Sea region and suggested ensuring the security situation with new approaches.

“We have condemned militarization of Crimea occupied by Russia. We have discussed new approaches to the security cooperation in the Black Sea region that will either replace or supplement the existing ones - BLACKSEAFOR and Document on Confidence and Security Building have become ineffective as a result of Russian aggression and we must offer new approaches and new vision,” the President said in the course of the joint press conference with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis. The Head of State noted that the given issue had been among priorities of today’s negotiations.

“The security situation in the Black Sea region has changed drastically requiring new decisions and approaches. We support the initiative of Romania on the establishment of a joint NATO flotilla. We are ready to join it after the approval by the Alliance,” Petro Poroshenko stressed.

The two Presidents praised the decision of NATO to conduct the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the highest level in the course of the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July. “We have agreed to meet there and continue our negotiations,” the President said.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to the President of Romania and the entire Romanian nation for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, for their position on the illegal annexation and occupation of Crimea and Russia’s actions in Donbas, as well as for the practical assistance in countering Russian military aggression.

“We are sincerely grateful to Romania for its assistance in treatment and rehabilitation of 21 National Guard warriors and 1 official of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine wounded in Donbas. Ukraine is also grateful for the financial and expert contribution of Romania to the functioning of the NATO Trust Fund on Cybersecurity. We consider it one of the main threats today and effective coordination of counteraction will help strengthen our security,” Petro Poroshenko noted.

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