Nicușor Dan, at the Helsinki summit: “I am quite pessimistic about Russia's intention to have peace in the immediate period ahead”
President Nicușor Dan stated that it is “quite pessimistic” regarding Russia's intention to reach a peace agreement in the next period, also mentioning the importance of the European support given to Ukraine in order to have a solid position in the negotiations they are carrying out.
Nicusor Dan participates in the Helsinki Summit. PHOTO: Facebook/Nicușor Dan
“There are several programs for the eastern flank both within NATO and especially within the European Union and the purpose of this meeting is to operationalize these programs between the countries of the eastern flank and especially the European program dedicated to the eastern flank”, Nicușor Dan told reporters in Helsinki.
Asked if Russia wanted a peace deal, the president stressed that the allies' priority must be to support Ukraine and that he was pessimistic about Russia's desire.
“What is important for us is to give Ukraine the possibilities to have a back in the negotiations that they are conducting. This means the financial possibility to carry out the war further and it means security guarantees for the period immediately after the war. I personally am quite pessimistic about the intention of Russia to have a peace in the immediate period, but on our side we must be prepared to provide Ukraine with all the necessary mechanisms to negotiate it.” stated Nicușor Dan.
The head of state was also asked if there is a plan of Romania and the allies on the eastern flank for the scenario in which the Russian army would reach the mouths of the Danube.
“We don't have to start from that, but within NATO and correspondingly in plans approved by CSAT there are all possible scenarios, only what is important for us now is on the one hand to support Ukraine to keep the front line, all this time, years to come to arm ourselves so as to deter any potential future aggression”, said the president.
For his part, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that the summit aims to reach an agreement on cooperation in strengthening defense and adopt a common position within the EU.
“Russia is a threat today, tomorrow and in the long term. The greatest pressure is on Europe's eastern borders,” said Orpo, quoted by Bloomberg.
The leaders of the participating states wish to convey “a clear message to Brussels” and to obtain funds for defense projects. Countries on the eastern flank plan to request funding to secure borders, strengthen air defenses, detect and counter drones, and develop ground forces.
Nicușor Dan is participating, together with the leaders of Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany and Bulgaria, at the Summit of EU States on the Eastern Flank, convened by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, in Helsinki. The objective of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense and to adopt a common position at the level of the European Union.
