New Romanian foreign minister holds first conversation with Ukrainian counterpart
Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, who took office on 23 December, has had his first telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry noted that Hurezeanu and Sybiha had "frank and productive exchanges" on the security situation in the region, bilateral relations, and Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic agenda.
"[We] condemned Russia’s aggression and expressed Romania’s strong and enduring support for Ukraine's legitimate fight. Agreed to stay in close contact and work together to advance Romanian-Ukrainian partnership in all areas," the Romanian Foreign Ministry stated.
First phone call 📞 of RO 🇷🇴 FM Emil Hurezeanu with UA 🇺🇦FM Sybiha @andrii_sybiha. Frank and productive exchanges on the regional security situation, the bilateral relations and Ukraine's 🇺🇦 European & Euro-Atlantic agendas. Condemned RU aggression & expressed RO 🇷🇴 strong and… pic.twitter.com/9GRTSffUkg
Advertisement:– Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania 🇷🇴 (@MAERomania) December 31, 2024
Sybiha said that during the conversation, he and his Romanian counterpart confirmed their readiness to "strengthen the strategic nature of our partnership, sectoral cooperation, and Black Sea security".
"Grateful to Romania for supporting Ukraine and our defense capabilities," he added.
Excellent first call with Romania’s new Foreign Minister @EmilHurezeanu. We reaffirmed our readiness to strengthen the strategic nature of our partnership, sectoral cooperation, and Black Sea security. Grateful to Romania for supporting Ukraine and our defense capabilities.
– Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) December 31, 2024
On 23 December, Romania approved a new government after the parliamentary elections, with Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu remaining prime minister.
This happened amid political turbulence in the country after the cancellation of the first round of the presidential election, where anti-Western candidate Călin Georgescu won.