Ukraine initiates security agreement talks with Romania

Ukraine has started negotiations with Romania on a bilateral security agreement. The talks began on the sidelines of the fourth meeting of national security advisors and political advisors of state leaders regarding the implementation of the Peace Formula in Davos, Switzerland, on January 14. Romania has already become the ninth country with which such negotiations have started.

The Office of the President of Ukraine disclosed the details.

Ukraine and Romania have started negotiations in Davos for a bilateral security agreement. If signed, the agreement will be in effect until Ukraine becomes a member of NATO.

The Ukrainian negotiating group was headed by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, and the Romanian delegation was headed by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Julian Fota.

"Negotiations have begun to fulfill the mandate of the Head of the Ukrainian State, Volodymyr Zelensky, within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration on support for Ukraine.

They marked the elevation of bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership.

This was a logical continuation of the agreements based on the results of the telephone conversation between the presidents of Ukraine and Romania on January 9, 2024, and a step towards the implementation of the Joint Declaration of the leaders of both states from October 10, 2023," the message published on the website of the head of state states.

In particular, according to the deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Zhovkva, Romania can help Ukraine obtain full security guarantees in Europe and, first of all, in the Black Sea region.

According to an official statement during the first round of negotiations, "the parties discussed the main elements of the future bilateral security agreement and agreed on the modalities of further negotiations."

According to the President's Office, Romania has already become the ninth country to start such negotiations with Ukraine.

The Office of the President is convinced that the neighboring country "once again confirmed its unwavering support for the independence and territorial integrity of our state, as well as its European and Euro-Atlantic path."

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytskyi, expressed gratitude to Romania and the Romanian people for the constant help that Ukraine receives.

The parties discussed the main elements of the future bilateral security agreement and agreed on the modalities of further negotiations.

Currently, Ukraine is actively discussing bilateral security guarantees with:

• USA,
• Germany,
• Italy,
• France,
• Canada,
• Poland

And on January 12, the first such agreement was signed with Great Britain.

"Very similar documents are being worked on with them; the idea is identical for all countries – the provision of security guarantees for Ukraine. This is a gradual integration into the NATO coordinate system through these security agreements," said the adviser to the head of the Office of the President, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, on the telethon air.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, about 30 countries are ready to sign security agreements with Ukraine similar to the British one.

It should be noted that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, celebrated signing the security agreement with Great Britain: he called the day when the agreement was concluded: "historic."

According to the head of state, such agreements "make Ukraine stronger."

Shortly after the signing of the agreement, its full text was published. As later explained in the Office of the President, the agreements reached provide that in the event of future aggression against Ukraine, Britain undertakes to help with weapons, equipment, finances, and the introduction of sanctions, but not with soldiers.