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Foreign Affairs Council, in Luxembourg
On Monday, April 22, the Foreign Affairs Council was held in Luxembourg, in a joint session gathering both EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Defence. The Ministry of National Defence was represented in the working sessions by State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru.
During the session, the European officials discussed the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the firm support for the neighboring country being restated in the context. At the beginning of the meeting, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov, stepped in via video conference.
The dialogue emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach, as well as the need for continued multidimensional support to Ukraine in both the short and long term. The essential role of the European Peace Facility and the importance of the rendering the Ukraine Assistance Fund operational were highlighted. Also, topics related to the EU's security commitments and the proposal to use, in support of Ukraine, the profits from the confiscated Russian assets were also addressed. The important contribution of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was also pointed out.
At the same time, the strengthening of the defence capability at European level was also discussed, based on the recent proposals of the European Commission regarding the European Defence Industry Strategy (EDIS) and the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP).
In her speech, the state secretary of the Ministry of Defence noticed the urgent nature of the support for Ukraine, welcoming the approval of the Ukraine Assistance Fund. The Romanian official emphasized our country's firm support for Kiev, highlighting the efforts made in the field of training, within EUMAM, as well as the establishment of the European F-16 Training Center in Romania.
The officials highlighted the importance of the enhancement of the cooperation at EU-NATO level with regard to the support for the air defence of Ukraine.
"Romania will remain a firm supporter of Ukraine, as long as necessary. Next, we need to have a coordinated and predictable approach with regard to the international support provided to Ukraine. As a state located in the immediate vicinity of the zone of aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, we support the consolidated cooperation between the EU and NATO, as a necessity in supporting the effort of ensuring the air defence in Ukraine", the Romanian state secretary stated.
The Press Office