Hurezeanu, at Foreign Affairs Council: Any discussion on Ukraine must not take place without Ukraine

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, participated on Monday in the meeting of the heads of diplomacy of the EU member states - the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) - which took place in Brussels, in which context he highlighted the importance of a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine and reiterated that any discussion on Ukraine must not take place without this country.According to a MAE release sent on Monday, the agenda of the meeting included Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the Middle East and the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The situation in Georgia was discussed under current affairs.During the discussions, the Romanian foreign minister reiterated his support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and stressed the importance of maintaining the unity of the Union and of continuing the EU's multidimensional support for Ukraine, including in the context of recent international developments regarding the future of Ukraine.Minister Hurezeanu welcomed the adoption of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia and expressed support for measures aimed at strengthening the EU's military support for Ukraine. He reiterated his support for the accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the EU and expressed hope for the advancement of the European integration of the two candidate states during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. At the same time, Hurezeanu stressed that any discussion on the future of Ukraine must include the neighbours who have consistently supported it.As to the situation in the Middle East, Emil Hurezeanu welcomed the organization of the EU-Israel Association Council in the margins of the FAC, underlining the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue with Israel in order to address, in a constructive manner, issues of mutual interest, as well as concerns related to developments in the region. In this context, the Romanian official also mentioned the importance of high-level political dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. The Romanian minister expressed support for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Romanian minister also reiterated support for the two-state solution, as the only sustainable and viable option for resolving the conflict.As to the situation in Syria, the Romanian foreign minister welcomed the EU's decision to ease sanctions, in a gradual and reversible manner, as part of the Union's effort to support the recovery of the Syrian economy and the political transition. Hurezeanu reiterated the importance of a peaceful and inclusive transition, respecting all minorities, and welcomed the results of the recent Paris Conference on Syria on February 13, 2025.Concerning the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, support was expressed for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning the flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. The importance of the EU supporting the joint mediation processes in Luanda and Nairobi was underlined, as well as the importance of protecting civilians. (Photo: www.mae.ro)