Ukraine. Images from Bucha and other Ukrainian cities reminder the whole world that this illegal aggression must be stopped and those found responsible must pay, said Romanian president Klaus Iohannis in response to what Ukraine described as war crimes committed by the Russian military in towns around the capital Kyiv. Romanian prime minister Nicolae Ciuca and foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu also called for these crimes to be brought before the international justice system. Ukrainian authorities said hundreds of civilian bodies were recovered and that almost 300 people had been buried in mass graves in Bucha. They accused the Russian army of committing a massacre. Russia denied the accusations saying the images are fake.
Address. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will today address Romania’s Parliament by video call, has announced the speaker of the Romanian Senate Florin Cîţu. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24th February, Zelensky spoke to the Parliaments of a number of countries, including the UK, Canada, the US and Germany. He also addressed the European Parliament and NATO and European Union leaders.
Talks. Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu is today having political consultations with his Estonian counterpart Eva-Maria Liimets, who is travelling to Bucharest at Aurescu’s invitation. The two ministers are attending a conference to discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine and how to build a more resilient NATO eastern flank, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Talks also are looking at ways to further develop bilateral ties, in particular economic and sectoral cooperation and to expand cooperation within regional alliances the two states are both part of, such as the Three Seas Initiatives and the Bucharest Nine. The two officials are also expected to inaugurate an exhibition to celebrate the 100 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Estonia.
