Radio România Internațional

Tag: Ukrainian grain exports

  • Romania supports the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

    Romania supports the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

    Seen as a major security, defense and foreign policy event, the Black Sea and the Balkans Security forum in Bucharest served as an opportunity to reaffirm some key objectives of Romanian diplomacy. Romania will continue to support Ukraine with all its might, a country invaded by Russian troops, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday on the sidelines of the Forum. The Romanian official pointed out that Romania is one of the main energy suppliers of the neighboring country and is making investments in order to become the main logistic hub for Ukrainian goods. “We have started large-scale projects, worth more than 1.5 bln EUR, in the port of Constanța, because Ukrainian grain exports via Constanţa to the whole world thwarted yet another of Russia’s heinous plans”, the Romanian Prime Minister added.

     

     

    This week, the Border Police General Inspectorate announced that, starting February 2022, when the Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and until May 21, 2024 at midnight, over eight million Ukrainian citizens entered Romania at national level. Most of them were in route to Western European countries, but about 84 thousand, accounting for 1% total entries, chose to stay in Romania. Last week, Prime Minister Ciolacu also gave assurances that Romania will maintain its aid for Ukrainian refugees. The victory of Ukraine against the Russian Federation means the victory of all democracies, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on the sidelines of the Forum in Bucharest. “It is important to stop the Russians from destroying even more!”, said the Ukrainian official who, like all Ukrainian political leaders, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy first and foremost, asked his partners, including Romania, for more sophisticated weaponry. In his message, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Western Dorin Recean, said it is essential to combat disinformation and Russian propaganda, which undermine peace and stability in the region. Trustworthy and strong media institutions are needed to inform the public correctly and objectively, the Moldovan Prime Minister also stated.

     

     

    Also on Thursday, the Government of Romania adopted a new support package for the Republic of Moldova, aimed at continuing energy exports, rehabilitating a student dormitory and providing public order and security structures. According to the Government spokesperson, Mihai Constantin, “the law stipulates in cases where the Republic of Moldova cannot ensure its national consumption of electricity through its own production, that electricity producers in Romania can sell energy products to traders or suppliers designated by the Government of the Republic of Moldova”. These electricity deliveries will exclusively cover the needs of end users in the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Constantin explained. (VP)

     

  • Romania and the transit of Ukrainian grain

    Romania and the transit of Ukrainian grain

    Having reached its second edition this year, the International Summit on Food Security in Kyiv was held at the end of last week, highlighting the importance of the humanitarian program titled “Ukrainian Grain”, launched by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2022. Attending were high-ranking officials from 30 states, including the USA, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Great Britain, representatives of the EU, UN and the Gulf Cooperation Council. In an online intervention, Romanias Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu mentioned Romanias key role in facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain via solidarity lanes created at the level of the European Union. The Romanian official reiterated Romanias solidarity with Ukraine, congratulating his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, for the excellent cooperation focusing on expanding land, rail, river and maritime connections between Ukraine and Romania.



    60% of Ukraines total grain exports used solidarity lanes, and Romania played a capital role in this respect, the Prime Minister said. Over the coming period, Ukraine seeks to extend its transport capacity with the help of international partners and the EU, Marcel Cioalcu went on to say. The Romanian official strongly criticized Russias illegal and unwarranted attacks in Ukraine, which he described as war crimes. He also condemned the Russian bombing in Ukraine, close to Romanias borders, which affects the transport of grain to international markets. Last month, Marcel Ciolacu paid a visit to Kyiv, signing a memorandum for the consolidation of cooperation regarding the transit of Ukrainian grain. The document also lays out a strategy for the development of road infrastructure and joint border crossing points.



    The European Commission hailed the agreement, which confirms Romanias constant support for Ukraine in its efforts to export its agricultural and industrial output, a major source of income for the war effort. “Romania has a pivotal role in the functioning of the Solidarity Lanes and is engaging constructively with all the parties concerned, including through the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes Joint Coordination Platform. The Commission encourages such close cooperation between the EU Member States and Ukraine”, the European Commission wrote at the time.


  • Ramifications of the war in Ukraine

    Ramifications of the war in Ukraine

    Close to Romania’s
    borders, Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Russian
    attacks using suicide drones, more often than not delivered by Iran, are
    carried out every night, and fragments from these drones often end up on
    Romanian territory as well. It is clear to everyone that in the near future
    Moscow is unlikely to stop its attacks, targeting ports on the Danube in
    particular and designed to destroy port infrastructure. The reason is just as
    simple to grasp: Russia wants to hamper the export of Ukrainian grain, which is
    Ukraine’s main source of income right now. George Scutaru, the director of New
    Strategy Center, told us more.


    Russia is turning
    Ukrainian grain into a weapon. Russia wants to create instability in Africa and
    displace a new wave of refugee towards Europe in order to create additional
    pressure, by turning grain into a weapon. Ukraine’s revenues right now are
    first and foremost reliant on grain exports. 85% of Ukrainian grain exports to
    global markets transit Romania. Russia wants to stifle Ukrainian economy and
    replace its contribution to global grain markets, thus depriving this country
    of the necessary resources for the war effort. This is also the reason behind
    the daily shelling of port infrastructure, and we can see how aggressive Russia
    can be in terms of bombing certain targets, certain Ukrainian ports, such as
    Reni, Izmail or Kiliia, close to Romania’s borders.


    Western support for
    Ukraine has been made clear ever since the start of the Russian aggression, and
    has translated into sustained deliveries of weapons and assistance, George
    Scutaru also told Radio Romania.


    This is not a war
    pitting just the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It is basically a war
    between autocracy and democracy. A defeat for Ukraine would spell the defeat of
    every country that supports Ukraine. And obviously, such a perspective would
    encourage countries such as Iran, North Korea and China to become more assertive
    on the global stage. For this reason, it is essential that Romanians understand
    why we have to provide this support to Ukraine. And let me be clear: the
    alternative would be that Romania cuts its support partly or totally, and as a
    result the Russians would control the Danube or, God forbid, the Prut. So,
    Romania has no choice: despite all the conflicts and differences we’ve had with
    the Ukrainians in the last 30 years, it is better for us to have an
    independent, democratic country, a country anchored in NATO and the EU as our
    neighbor instead of the Russians. By supporting Ukraine, it is also important
    for us to make sure the Republic of Moldova also preserves its independence.
    Therefore, here is one direct consequence for Romania.


    We cannot remain passive
    or neutral. We are siding with a country that has been attacked, and our
    passivity or neutrality would encourage the aggressor to carry further their
    diabolical plan of occupying a free country. Sooner or later, the war will end
    and we need to know what the region would look like post-conflict, George
    Scutaru went on to say.


    If Russia is condemned
    by international courts of law, Ukraine might get access to the Russian
    Federation’s frozen assets in a number of Western states. We’re talking about
    over 320 billion that might be channeled in the reconstruction of Ukraine,
    alongside donations from independent countries or sources. This is a big part
    of the future reconstruction of Ukraine. And I would like to point out the
    following fact: as Ukraine’s neighbor, Romania should not miss the opportunity
    of playing an important role in the reconstruction process. We are part of
    NATO, and global companies with an interest of getting involved in the
    reconstruction of Ukraine could locate part of their activity in Romania. We
    are also close to Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, which were all hit hard in the war.
    And starting 2027, Romania could become the EU’s biggest gas producer, as
    exploitation works will start in the Black Sea, so we will also have the
    necessary energy reserves.


    For the time being, we
    need to be aware the war will not be over soon. There is no sign any of the
    belligerents are willing to end the war in the coming months, and there is
    still heavy fighting on the frontline, as Ukraine tries to break past Russia’s
    defenses. Putin too wants the war to continue, George Scutaru believes.


    Over the coming period,
    Russia will try to undermine support for Ukraine. Romania and other states in
    the EU, the USA will host elections, and Russia has always tried to interfere
    with the election processes. It will try to double its efforts in order to cut
    back on support for Ukraine. In the end, I am confident that if democratic
    countries stick together and continue to deliver military, financial, economic
    and political assistance to Kyiv, Ukraine will prevail.


    The other option is to
    see a dictatorship defeating a coalition of democratic states, says George
    Scutaru, the director of New Strategy Center. (VP)

  • November 2, 2022

    November 2, 2022

    AMENDMENTS – The Government is expected to
    pass a number of legislative amendments in preparation of Romania’s Schengen
    accession. The Government noted the current legislation no longer reflects the
    current European framework for exchanging information among Member States,
    while the national digital reporting system also needs improvement. The
    government wants to decide which authorities should have a right to access,
    transmit or consult data from the national digital system.


    COLD SEASON – 58% of Romanians say they
    will have trouble paying energy bills this upcoming winter, estimating
    temperatures in their homes will be lower compared to previous years, a recent
    study reveals. According to its findings, soaring utility expenses have shaped
    Romanians’ purchasing behavior. 55% of Romanians said they have stopped buying
    non-essential products. 40% of respondents have described energy bills as their
    biggest concern for the period ahead.


    MOLDOVA – Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu,
    received assurances regarding Bucharest’s full support for Chișinău
    in the context of the energy crisis in this country. President Sandu on Tuesday
    met Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in Bucharest, expressing gratitude for
    their support and Romania’s actions to facilitate the provision of electricity,
    natural gas, fuel oil and firewood to Moldovan citizens. Furthermore, Maia
    Sandu thanked Romania for quickly responding to offset Moldova’s electricity
    deficit. We recall Bucharest has started supplying electricity and natural gas to
    Moldova after Ukraine has ceased energy exports to Moldova after its energy
    infrastructure was affected by Russian bombings.


    REFUGEES – The Border Police Inspectorate
    announced some 65 thousand people entered Romania on Tuesday, of whom 7,500
    were Ukrainian nationals. According to a press release, some 2.7 million
    Ukrainians have entered Romania starting February 10, most of them headed to
    countries in Western Europe. Over 86,500 Ukrainians have chosen to stay.


    SHIPMENTS – Russia today agreed to resume grain
    exports from Ukraine after receiving guarantees in writing from Ukraine
    regarding the demilitarization of the maritime corridor used for their transport.
    On Saturday, Moscow suspended grain exports invoking drone attacks on Russian military
    watercraft in the port of Sevastopol. Russia claimed the drones moved along the
    secure corridor addressing trade vessels transporting Ukrainian grain. On
    Monday, Russia had warned against the danger of freight ships continuing to navigate
    the corridor used by Ukrainian trade vessels to reach the Mediterranean through
    the Bosporus strait without its consent.


    CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – The Constitutional
    Court of Romania today admitted a notification filed by USR in opposition
    regarding the law that sanctions the building of small power plants in
    protected areas. USR has lodged 11 unconstitutionality claims, including the
    violation of the principle of bicameralism, considering there are major
    differences between the law adopted in the Senate and the version passed by the
    Chamber of Deputies. USR also claims the law is in breach of the right to a
    clean environment. Early this year, Parliament adopted the law stipulating that
    power plants in protected areas that are over 60% complete are considered
    projects of national security and must be rendered operational by the end of
    2025. (VP)

  • Ukrainian grain routes transiting Romania

    Ukrainian grain routes transiting Romania


    Romania has agreed that Ukrainian ships transporting grain may transit the Chilia and Bystroye canals. The decision of the Romanian authorities comes in support of Ukraine, and is meant at curbing the effects of the war in this country. According to the Foreign Ministry, the decision is exceptional in itself, given the importance of diversifying and streamlining transport routes used to export grain from Ukraine. The consent expressed by the Romanian side also highlighted Romania’s plans on developing the Bystroye deepwater navigation canal, insisting that it should observe international provisions in the field, including environmental standards. At the same time, Romania remains committed to making efforts at national and European level to facilitate the transit and export of Ukrainian grain, including via the Romanian ports on the Danube and the Black Sea.




    Construction works on the Bystroye Canal, linking the Danube to the Black Sea, started in 2004. Romania called on Ukraine to discard this project, considering part of the canal crosses the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and breaches a number of international conventions in the field of environment protection, affecting certain wildlife species. International authorities ruled in Romania’s favor, yet despite official warnings, Kyiv inaugurated the canal in 2007. In the last four days, 16 ships have transited the canal, Ukrainian authorities say. In this context, military delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey met on Wednesday with UN officials in Istanbul where they discussed the possibility of resuming Ukrainian grain exports from the port of Odessa on the Black Sea. Following the round of talks, the parties agreed to set up a coordination center that will guarantee the safety of navigation routes, Ankara officials say. An agreement is expected to be signed next week. At the same time, the parties agreed to perform joint inspections in ports. The meeting comes amidst soaring food prices reported at global level, in part due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.



    The world’s fourth largest grain exporter, Ukraine was forced to export its grain by rail via Poland, Slovakia or Romania. Its exports are currently blocked by Russian battleships in the Black Sea, while sea mines deployed by Kyiv also pose a problem. In recent weeks, Turkey, a NATO Member State, has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to help Ukraine resume its grain exports. According to Turkish authorities, 20 trade ships are currently waiting in the Black Sea to be loaded with Ukrainian grain. (VP)