Debates over peacekeeping troops in Ukraine are premature, Romanian interim president says

In his first press conference since becoming interim president, held on Friday, February 28, Ilie Bolojan said that discussing peacekeeping troops in Ukraine is premature, since no peace agreement was reached. He also discussed increasing Romania’s defense spending, the relationship with the United States, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The press conference was organised after Ilie Bolojan's consultations with the leaders of the main parliamentary parties, held with the aim of preparing Romania's stance for the extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6 in Brussels. The agenda includes important topics such as continued support for Ukraine and increasing defense spending amid the ongoing geopolitical challenges.

Peacekeepers in Ukraine

Interim president Ilie Bolojan argued that discussing sending peacekeeping troops in Ukraine is premature in the absence of peace accords.

“I hope and would like to see a peace agreement, but such an agreement will require guarantees; otherwise, it will not be functional. These guarantees will likely involve a concentration of peacekeeping forces. We could serve as a hub for the transit of these troops,” Bolojan stated.

He added, “These troops could serve as peacekeeping forces, similar to those in Bosnia or Kosovo, operating under a UN mandate or other international mandates. There has been no substantive positioning, and based on the stances of political parties, there is no parliamentary support for such a move."

The interim president also said that everyone wants the conflict to end, and that the provision of financial and military aid to Ukraine will be decided next week.

The statements come as NATO countries discuss the idea of a multinational peacekeeping force as a potential security guarantee for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was concerned by the idea.

Romanian prime minister, coalition candidate oppose sending peacekeeping troops

On Thursday, February 27, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that Romania will not send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine and that the interim president, Ilie Bolojan, will convey this position at the European Council.

"I do not agree with sending forces, and I have also spoken with the interim president, and this is the decision that he will also convey at the European Council. Romania will not participate with forces on Ukrainian territory. First, a peace agreement must be reached. Romania needs to stabilize its own situation; we have the longest border with Ukraine, we have the Black Sea, and Romania can most easily strengthen the eastern flank on its own territory, not by deploying troops to a conflict zone," said the prime minister, cited by