Romania and Ukraine Sign Strategic Partnership

Romania and Ukraine Sign Strategic Partnership

Executive Summary:

• Romania and Ukraine strengthened their bilateral relationship with a strategic partnership, signed on  March 12, which opened up new avenues of cooperation in defense, the economy, intelligence, and critical infrastructure, among other sectors.
• The strategic partnership enables Ukraine to secure Romania’s backing for Euro-Atlantic integration, while it enables Romania to improve its diplomatic position in the Black Sea.
• The Romanian–Ukrainian strategic partnership represents an important step toward building a strong regional framework to counter Russian revisionism amid the current security environment in the Black Sea.

After more than two years of intense negotiations, Romania and Ukraine signed a strategic partnership on March 12 (President of Romania, March 12). This marks a new era in relations between the two countries and opens opportunities for cooperation in security, defense, economics, and culture. It is a sign of maturing relations between the two countries. Bucharest is securing its diplomatic position in the Black Sea with a new strategic partner, while Kyiv gains a strong advocate in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Romania can now rely on strategic partnerships with Bulgaria (2023), Türkiye (2011), Moldova (2010), Ukraine (2026), Georgia (2022), and Azerbaijan (2009), strengthening its position in the region (Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accessed April 27). From a diplomatic standpoint, Bucharest is trying to build a network of “like-minded” states to counter Russian influence and to forge a stronger regional cooperation framework.

On March 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Romania and met with his Romanian counterpart, President Nicușor Dan (TVRInfo.ro, March 12). This was Zelenskyy’s second visit to Romania in three years, the first being in 2023 (President of Romania, October 10, 2023). It was also the second time Zelenskyy met with Dan, following their first meeting in Vilnius on June 2, 2025 (TVRInfo.ro, June 2, 2025).

The idea of a strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine emerged after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at the first meeting of the Odesa Triangle—a trilateral cooperation format between Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine (Embassy of Ukraine in Romania, September 15, 2022). The project advanced further in 2023 after Zelenskyy visited Bucharest (President of Romania, October 10, 2023).

Historically, Romanian–Ukrainian relations have not been close, despite the 1997 treaty of cooperation and good neighborly relations between the two countries (see The Monitor, July 9, 1997). Since Ukrainian independence, bilateral relations have been affected by disputes over minority rights for ethnic Romanians living in Ukraine, waterways, and border demarcation. Romania’s drive in the late 1990s for Euro-Atlantic integration led to a relative neglect of its bilateral relations with its largest neighbor to the east. Because of the poor relations between the two countries and because Bucharest eventually became a member of NATO, Ukrainian troops routinely practiced against a potential Romanian invasion of Ukraine (Libertatea, April 4, 2022).

Persistent and seemingly insurmountable issues affected the relationship in the early and late 2000s, such as the development of the Bystre canal in the Danube Delta and maritime delimitation in the Black Sea (see The Monitor, October 9, 1996, May 5, 1997; see EDM, September 10, 2004, March 17, 2009; see Black Sea Battleground, December 20, 2021). Despite the acrimonious relations between the two countries, in 2008, Romania supported the accession of Ukraine and Georgia to the Alliance at the Bucharest NATO Summit to counterbalance an increasingly revisionist and assertive Russia in the Black Sea (NATO, April 3, 2008). The political instability of the early 2000s in Ukraine, with pro-European and pro-Russian factions alternating in power, fostered in Romania a perception of an unreliable neighbor.  The lowest point in relations between the two countries was reached in 2009, when two Ukrainian diplomats were expelled from Romania for espionage (Ziare.com, March 6, 2009). Despite not being publicly acknowledged, it was heavily implied that both “diplomats” were actually working for the Russian intelligence services (Mediafax, March 10, 2009; Hotnews.ro, May 17, 2009).

The 2013 Euromaidan protests, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and Russia’s attempt to take over Eastern Ukraine contributed significantly to a relative improvement in relations between the two countries. Dialogue and cooperation on technical issues such as energy security, cybersecurity, transport infrastructure, border crossings, civil society contacts, and military technical cooperation created the necessary trust to advance relations further. Romania has also been an advocate for EU integration for Ukraine (President of Romania, March 12). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 transformed the relationship completely. Kyiv became a bulwark against Russian revisionism and expansionism for Romania, while Bucharest was key to Ukraine’s military and economic survival.

The new strategic partnership is all-encompassing and covers every aspect of the bilateral relationship between the two countries (President of Romania, March 12). At the political level, bilateral relations will be chaired by both presidents within the framework of a high-level strategic commission, and joint cabinet meetings will be held each year. Technical issues will be coordinated through a Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Industrial, and Technical-Scientific Cooperation, while a similar joint military commission will handle military technical cooperation. A third dedicated commission will handle the delicate issue of minority rights, and Ukraine agreed to institute the “Romanian Language Day” as a national holiday. Policy-wise, the dialogue between Bucharest and Kyiv will be handled by the foreign ministries of both countries, through a “2+2” format that will include the foreign and defense ministers.

In terms of security and defense cooperation, the strategic partnership builds on the 2024 Agreement on Security Cooperation signed by Zelenskyy and former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Washington (RFELEuropea Liberă România, July 11, 2024). Romania will continue to support Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and the Alliance’s open-door policy. The areas of cooperation between the two countries in defense and security spheres have been extended to cybersecurity, foreign information manipulations and interference (FIMI), intelligence sharing, combating organized crime, deepening cooperation between the ministries of internal affairs of both countries, protection of critical infrastructure, cooperation between rescue and civil defense agencies, cooperation regarding strategic communications initiatives, and cooperation in the defense and aerospace sector.

The Black Sea represents the main focus of security and defense cooperation for Romania and Ukraine. Both countries agreed to closely cooperate to enhance awareness of threats in the region, maritime security, protection of critical infrastructure, coordination between coast guards, and response to civil emergencies. From an economic point of view, the document lays the foundations for intensified cooperation in the Black Sea in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, digital, and energy. In the latter sector, both countries acknowledged their interest in developing offshore energy projects and agreed to share gas storage facilities. Environmental protection and cultural activities are also included as spheres of regional cooperation between the two countries.

In a strong signal that this strategic partnership is not just another diplomatic document, a delegation of 15 Ukrainian defense companies has already met with Romanian Minister of Defense Radu-Dinel Miruță to explore the potential of producing unmanned aerial systems in Romania for both countries (Mediafax, March 30). The Romanian authorities will evaluate the Ukrainian offers to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) model that both countries can use. Ukrainian drone or defense production in Romania means that potential Russian direct strikes against such facilities are unlikely and that Bucharest will gain access to the latest defense technology at an affordable cost.

After security and defense, the economy represents the other main pillar of cooperation between the two countries. As they share a 650-kilometer (404-mile) border, Romania and Ukraine have pledged to improve interconnectivity between the two countries. This domain includes sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, digital connectivity, and upgrading, as well as increasing the number of border crossings.

In terms of transportation, both countries want to develop road, rail, and water connections. The role of such connections has proven crucial to Ukraine’s survival after Russia’s 2022 invasion. The strategic partnership further deepens cooperation in agriculture and trade and seeks to improve the business environment for Romanian and Ukrainian companies. A significant improvement in the business environments of both countries, as well as support from both governments, will be crucial for the future success of Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Given the current security environment in the Black Sea, the Romanian–Ukrainian strategic partnership represents an important step toward building a strong regional framework to counter Russian revisionism. The Kremlin will now have fewer opportunities to destabilize relations between the two countries. The deepening cooperation between Kyiv and Bucharest represents a positive development for both NATO and the European Union, which are facing an increasing number of threats and risks.