Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Romania, Dmytro Kuleba and Bogdan Aurescu, noted the readiness of the two states to start a strategic partnership, “taking into account the current level of relations between Kyiv and Bucharest and proceeding from the centuries of friendly coexistence of our peoples in Central Europe and the Black Sea region.”
This was discussed during Kuleba’s working trip to Romania, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
“Ukraine seeks to officially start a strategic partnership with Romania. This means a special relationship between our states. Aurescu and I agreed to make this a reality,” Kuleba said.
The parties agreed to hold consultations as soon as possible between the involved ministries of Ukraine and Romania to remove obstacles to the opening of additional checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Romanian border and the implementation of joint infrastructure projects.
The parties agreed to intensify the activities of the working group on cooperation in the energy sector.
The interlocutors discussed preparations for the Crimean Platform summit as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
“Aurescu announced the readiness of the Romanian side to send a military unit of the armed forces of Romania to participate in a military parade in the capital of Ukraine,” the message says.
Holding !FEST has opened the first bar Piana Vyshnia (Drunken Cherry) in Bucharest (Romania), the head and co-owner of the holding Andriy Khudo has said.
“We opened a business in Romania. The first project, of course, is Piana Vyshnia in the capital of the country, Bucharest,” he wrote on Facebook.
According to him, during quarantine restrictions, the institution is open on weekdays until 20:00, on weekends – until 18:00.
According to the information on the site, the Piana Vyshnia bars chain, in addition to Ukraine, is also represented in Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw) and Moldova (Chisinau).
Holding of emotions !FEST was founded in 2007 and develops a network of creative restaurants, coffee houses and shops in Ukraine.
The owners of the holding !FEST are Khudo, Yuriy Nazaruk and Dmytro Herasymov.
Romania’s gas transmission system (GTS) operator SNTGN Transgaz has started selling capacity at the point of interstate connection with Ukraine Orlivka/Isaccea-1 on the RBP auction platform since April.
In this regard, the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) congratulated the Romanian colleagues in its message, expressing hope for the signing of interaction agreements at other points of connection between the countries.
“GTSOU constantly and systematically works with all its colleagues to ensure that such practices become a reality on each border with Ukraine and contribute to the further integration of Ukrainian and neighboring markets. We are glad that Romanian colleagues have now joined Poland and Hungary. This is another step towards easing the use of the Trans-Balkan Gas Corridor. We hope that our Slovak colleagues will support the trend of introducing auctions even before the end of 2021,” Director on Government and International Affairs Olha Bielkova said.
GTSOU said that the distribution of capacities at auctions is a transparent mechanism for the sale of services for the transportation of natural gas, in accordance with the Third EU Energy Package. From October 1, 2020, GTSOU, like all EU countries, distributes capacities to all points of interstate connection exclusively through auctions.
Romania has suspended flights with Ukraine, which is in the “yellow” lockdown zone, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.
“As reported by the Digi24 Romanian television channel, the Romanian government has decided to suspend airline service with the countries of the ‘yellow’ lockdown zone, among which is Ukraine,” the State Border Service of Ukraine said in the statement on the Telegram channel on Friday.
According to the statement, an exception to the ban on flights to Romania was made for the member states of the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Foreign Minister of Romania Bogdan Aurescu have agreed to establish a joint working group on cooperation in the energy sector.
“We discussed in detail the ambitious potential projects in the energy sector, primarily those related to electricity, gas and hydrogen. We decided to create a working group on energy issues and look forward to when our colleagues from the ministries of energy of Ukraine and Romania and the involved business companies will start a detailed substantive conversation on the issues that I have mentioned,” Kuleba said at a joint press conference with Aurescu in Bucharest.
He also noted that he had discussed with his Romanian colleague how to launch the Isaccea-Orlivka ferry service at a maximum capacity.
“I am absolutely sure that we can, we have every opportunity to create and implement ambitious projects that will make Ukraine, Romania, and our region as a whole stronger. It would be an unacceptable mistake not to use the opportunities that we have, primarily in energy and infrastructure sectors. And so today we’ve really discussed how we can launch the Isaccea-Orlivka ferry line at a maximum capacity and eliminate certain problematic issues,” the Ukrainian minister added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a telephone conversation with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu have agreed on the protection of Ukrainian citizens in Romania during traffic restrictions and uninterrupted transit of Ukrainian goods through Romanian territory, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said. “I appeal to you in every possible way to support the citizens of Ukraine who are in Romania at a time when the transport links were practically closed, and I confirm that you can count on our appropriate attitude towards the citizens of Romania in Ukraine during this difficult period,” the press service said on Wednesday, quoting Kuleba.
Aurescu confirmed that Romania has always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO. He also assured Ukraine of Romania’s support in international institutions and organizations, of which Romania is a member.
In addition, Kuleba drew the attention of the Romanian foreign minister to the inadmissibility of Russia’s attempts to ease sanctions against the backdrop of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic.
“I would also like to draw your attention to the calls of Russia to ease sanctions under the pretext of a COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic instability in the world. These calls are inappropriate and unacceptable. It is very important that no one can use the current difficult situation to achieve political goals. The sanctions were introduced over the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the COVID-19 pandemic has nothing to do with them,” the Ukrainian minister said.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Aurescu assured Kuleba that he agrees with this approach to the issue of keeping sanctions against the Russian Federation. He also invited the Foreign Minister of Ukraine to pay a visit to Romania.
