Romania responds to Russia’s attempts to block shipping in the Black Sea

Russia’s attempts to destroy the infrastructure of the Black Sea ports, threaten shipping in the Black Sea and provoke a global food crisis are unacceptable. This was stated by Romanian Foreign Minister Luminica Odobescu in Brussels before the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

“What Russia is doing these days – bombing ports, bombing Odesa, destroying infrastructure and practically threatening navigation in the Black Sea – is unacceptable. From our point of view, Russia intends to provoke a global food crisis, and this topic will be discussed today at the EU Foreign Affairs Council,” the Romanian foreign minister said.

She emphasized that Russia’s decision not to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative only underscores the importance of the EU’s “solidarity corridors” on the borders with Ukraine, as well as the important role Romania plays in supporting the transit of Ukrainian grain.

The Romanian official called the Russian aggression and the need to increase EU assistance to Ukraine the “most urgent” item on the agenda of today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“This will be the first such discussion after the European Council in June and after the NATO summit in Vilnius (in July – ed.). I will continue to express Romania’s strong support for Ukraine in many areas. In particular, in the military dimension, in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council, we support a targeted financial package for Ukraine, and we will strive to approve the eighth tranche (for Ukraine, 500 million euros – ed.) from the European Peace Fund,” the Romanian diplomat said.

Odobescu reminded that during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Romania supported the security commitments of the allies to Ukraine, as well as the declaration of the Group of Seven on this issue, which was adopted at the summit. She noted that she expects to continue discussing the topic of such security commitments today at the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Another important topic of the meeting should be assistance to other countries that are vulnerable to Russian aggression, in particular, the Republic of Moldova and the Western Balkans.

Tags: Black Sea grain deal, Romania