As part of her first visit to Ukraine following her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Oana Toiu met with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk. This also marked the first bilateral visit by Romania’s top diplomat since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized that Romania is a key partner and a reliable ally of Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude for Bucharest’s consistent position in condemning russian aggression, for the significant practical support provided, and for the assistance extended to Ukrainian citizens who have found temporary refuge in Romania.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the security situation in the region, the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, the course of the peace process, and the importance of achieving a just peace based on Ukraine’s terms. Special attention was given to the topic of European integration, in particular the need to unblock the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament also raised the issue of interparliamentary cooperation, including within the Ukraine–Romania–Moldova format, and underscored the importance of protecting the rights of Ukrainian children temporarily residing in Romania, especially with regard to ensuring access to education in the Ukrainian language.
Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed his gratitude for Romania’s support of the International Crimea Platform and voiced hope for the active participation of Romanian parliamentarians in its upcoming parliamentary summit.
Separately, he called on the Romanian side to adopt a decision on the official recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada highly appreciated the political declaration adopted by the Romanian Parliament in 2022, in which the Holodomor was recognized as a crime against the Ukrainian people and against humanity. He noted that the next important step could be the legal recognition of the Holodomor specifically as genocide.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized: «A strong Ukraine means shared security for the entire region. We value our partnership with Romania and are committed to further strengthening it.»