Romania will collaborate with Turkey and Bulgaria to monitor compliance with a potential 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, interim President Ilie Bolojan announced at a press conference following the Paris summit of the "Coalition of the Willing”.

Russia and Ukraine each reached separate agreements with the United States on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, following three days of negotiations in Saudi Arabia. However, Russia has stipulated that the ceasefire will only take effect once certain sanctions on its food and fertiliser exports are lifted.

Bolojan said on March 27 that any decision regarding an increase in Nato forces on the eastern flank would be made after the Alliance summit in June.

“An important point was to ensure continued support for Ukraine and for strengthening the Eastern Flank. Romania has a strategic interest in continuing to support Ukraine, because without such support, there is a risk of the front falling and, practically, the Ukrainians, by what they do, defending their citizens and territory, keep the danger at bay,” the Romanian president said, according to a statement from the presidency. 

“Any situation in which Ukraine falls would mean significant complications and an advance towards the West, which neither Europe nor Romania want. In this regard, the aid that was agreed at the Council last week will continue to be provided and collaboration will be made to strengthen the Eastern Flank.” 

He also reiterated that Romania would not deploy military personnel to Ukraine but could serve as a transportation hub for designated forces in the event of a broader peace agreement.

Bolojan stressed Romania’s role in monitoring the ceasefire, citing the Black Sea’s strategic importance to the country’s economy.

“We have significant investments in the region, a substantial portion of our exports depend on naval trade, and the port of Constanța is the most important port on the Black Sea,” he said. He added that ensuring a secure maritime corridor would benefit trade and economic development.

Ukraine has expressed unconditional support for a broader ceasefire with Russia, beyond the proposed one-month truce concerning energy infrastructure, according to Ukraine Business News.

Meanwhile, Romania and Bulgaria have opposed any provision in the agreement that would allow Russia’s fleet to regain access to the Black Sea, citing national security concerns and the potential strategic advantage it could provide to Moscow.