Pirvulescu: President Zelenski's visit to Romania of strategic importance for relations between the two countries

President Zelenski's visit in Romania is of strategic importance for relations between the two countries, the announcement of the strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine being a political, military and economic one, of bilateral interest, said political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu said.   “In general, relations had been cold, sometimes even conflictual and only Russia's aggression of 2022 succeeded in improving those relations. The Ukrainian president's visit to Bucharest is an epitome of those relations, Romania proving to be Ukraine's honest and discreet partner, helping it in key moments,”the analyst declared.   He considered that the strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine can be understood as equally political, military and economic, to the bilateral interest of both countries, the analyst declaring that Romania's support, personally by president Iohannis, for Ukraine's accession to the European Union will be also granted to Moldova.   “In the end, a question which had been discussed at prime minister level in August was also approached – the increase of the transit of Ukrainian cereals through Romania, in the conditions in which Ukraine's relations with hypocritical EU countries, initially big Ukrainian supporters, got cold. The transit corridor through Moldova is one of the possible ways, considering that now, Russia is attacking Danube ports. Therefore there are not many solutions, the only one being through Moldova, which will suppose cooperation with Moldova. We are certain the latter will approve, but political problem there are much more complicated than in Romania,” Pirvulescu explained.   Asked about the question of the rights of Romanians living in Ukraine, approached during the meeting, he showed that the Ukrainian state would not be able to go towards the EU accession without recognizing those rights.   “No steps can be made towards EU accession, without recognizing those rights and the first measures have already been adopted. For Ukraine, in conditions of war, it is more difficult than for Moldova to succeed in carrying out criteria imposed by the European Commission, to be able to begin negotiations. That is the reason why the president of Ukraine needs the vocal support of certain countries, and Romania is assuming this cause, which will certainly count, because president Iohannis' voice is listened to in the European area,” Pirvulescu said.   Cristian Pirvulescu appreciated the discretion of the two heads of state about the military aid granted to Ukraine, saying that reasons for that “are visible with the naked eye, in the sense that the existence of pro-Russian groups, violent and vocal risk to turn these topics into internal disputes.” “There is no room for internal disputes, aid for Ukraine is concretely needed,”the analyst added.   Referring to the cancellation of president Zelenski's speech in Romania's Parliament, which the Ukrainian presiden said it had not been on the agenda, Pirvulescu showed that “there is absolute discretion, but we understand the context,” the decision being caused by “those extremist and pro-Russian politicians who wanted to turn everything into a humiliating circus, both for Romania and Ukraine.”   At the joint press conference held with president Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace, following official talks, there was the question why the Kiev leader's speech announced in Parliament had been cancelled. The latter said he had not prepared a speech to be presented in the plenum of the Romanian Parliament on Tuesday, but he would certainly held one next time. He pointed out the speech had not been included in his schedule.   “My agenda includes a meeting with the premier and presidents of the two Chambers of Parliament and MPs, but I did not prepare any speeches. Next time, be certain I will have a special one for your Parliament, for all journalists, for everybody,” Zelenski said.