Romania’s support for Ukraine’s accession to NATO “remains unwavering,” president says

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis stated during the NATO Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit in Bratislava that Romania's support for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance "remains unwavering," and that the Republic of Moldova must receive more support.

The president began his address by noting the importance of coordination within NATO. “The Bucharest 9 format maintains its added value - solidarity, dialogue, and cooperation are the foundations of our common strength and resilience. Our common vision is essential in identifying the means necessary to strengthen the deterrence and defense posture on NATO's Eastern Flank, from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, for the benefit of overall transatlantic security,” he said.

He further argued that the NATO member states on the eastern flank are on the front line of countering the effects of the war unleashed by Russia.

“Romania is the NATO Ally with the longest border with Ukraine, and we clearly understand the need to strengthen our national defense and consolidate NATO's posture on the Eastern Flank in a unified and coherent manner, both credible and robust, including at the Black Sea,” Iohannis stated.

“We will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is necessary. Ukraine's victory in this war is our main objective. At the same time, Romania's support for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance, as envisaged at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008, remains unwavering. We must also strengthen support for NATO's vulnerable partners, especially the Republic of Moldova, to enhance its defense capabilities and resilience. I am confident that our discussions today will pave the way for a unified approach to the security of our region and a successful Summit in Vilnius,” Klaus Iohannis said in the conclusion.

Romania's president Klaus Iohannis participated on Tuesday in the Bucharest 9 (B9) Format Summit in Bratislava, which he co-chaired alongside the president of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Caputova, and the president of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, according to Digi24, citing Agerpres. NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg also attended the event.

According to a press release put out by the Romanian Presidential Administration, the high-level meeting of the Bucharest 9 Format states takes place approximately one month before the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The meeting allows for an in-depth exchange of views on the allied agenda of priorities and major objectives, with a focus on strengthening NATO's deterrence and defense posture on the Eastern Flank and intensifying cooperation with Ukraine.

The agenda for discussions includes assessing the progress made in implementing allied decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Madrid, including in terms of investment and defense expenditure commitments, as well as the support provided to Ukraine in pursuing its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.