Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine Chisinau, July 05, 2024 We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine met on July 05, 2024, in Chisinau, to discuss the current security situation in our region, the status and future perspectives of cooperation, based on trilateral discussions held in Odesa on September 15, 2022, and in Bucharest on April 13, 2023. We were joined by ministers and senior officials in charge of energy and infrastructure. Our states share similar visions and concerns regarding the current security environment in Europe, in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, and stand for a common European, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future. We are boosting our political dialogue and cooperation in the areas of security and defense, trade, energy, infrastructure, education, as well as strategic communications and countering disinformation. We underline our commitment to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine within their internationally recognized borders, including their territorial waters, ‘The Republic of Moldova and Romania reaffirm their strong solidarity, unwavering commitment, and support to Ukraine and its people as they heroically and legitimately fight the Russian unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal war of aggression. The full-scale military invasion that started in February of 2022 is a direct continuation of Russia's aggression that has been going on since February of 2014 We express our strong will to promote closer cooperation in order to strengthen capabilities to counter the Russian hybrid threats and build up the resilience of our societies, including against disinformation. In this context, we signed in Chisinau a Memorandum of Understanding on countering foreign information manipulation and interference. We warmly welcome the holding on June 25, 2024, of the first intergovernmental conferences with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine respectively, marking the official opening of EU accession negotiations with the two countries. This is a historic step, which reflects that both countries belong to the European family and are making all the necessary progress towards achieving EU membership. The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine remain committed to pursuing, in a sustainable and comprehensive manner, all reforms necessary for becoming full-fledged members of the European Union. We call for a predictable, solid and dynamic negotiation process, responding to the expectations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The enlargement process with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine is a strategic investment of the European Union in the united future of Europe.The Republic of Moldova and Romania reaffirm their support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and welcome efforts aimed to achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine and strengthening global security, building up on the outcomes of the First Global Peace Summit on June 15-16, 2024, in Biirgenstock, the Swiss Confederation. In this regard, the Republic of Moldova and Romania reaffirm their support of the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework and their readiness to work on establishing a just peace for Ukraine within the vision presented during the First Global Peace Summit by the Ukrainian Side. The Republic of Moldova and Romania reiterate their willingness to contribute to Ukraine's post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Their geographic location on the border with Ukraine enables both the Republic of Moldova and Romania to play an essential role in supporting reconstruction, serving as a logistical hub for companies and organizations involved. We emphasized the paramount importance of the development of regional electricity interconnections, such as the promotion of the project of the second circuit of the 330 kV Over Head Line (OHL) "Balti-Dnestrovsk Hydroelectric Power Plant", OHL 330 kV "Vulednesti - Artsyz", OHL 400 kV "Isaccea - Vulcdnesti - Chisinau", OHL 400 kV " Balti - Suceava", OHL 400 kV " Strageni - Gutinas", OHL 400 kV Suceava - Cerndufi and OHL "Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant - Prymorska - Vuleanesti - Isaccea" We will work together to increase the interconnection capacity of the Trans-Balkan natural gas route as part of the Vertical Gas Corridor, including harmonizing the gas quality parameters and developing projects dedicated to the production of green hydrogen using renewable energy sources. The Republic of Moldova expressed its readiness to provide electricity supply to Ukraine within the framework of a “gas-to-clectricity swap” by deploying on its territory power generation units, using natural gas supplied by Ukraine for this scope. Due to this sides will seek a solution to make gas infrastructure commercially reliable. We agreed to cooperate in mobilizing international funds and assistance for the implementation of these projects, which aim to strengthen energy security, ensure sustainable development in the region, and contribute to achieving the climate transition goals. We express our willingness to work on increasing the efficiency and volumes of goods, especially agricultural produce, transiting from/to Ukraine through the Republic of Moldova and Romania to the Danube ports with increased emphasis and priority on railways within the "Solidarity Lanes". We also recognize the need to strengthen integrated border management, especially by developing the "Reni - Giurgiulesti - Galati" multimodal transport hub through the "Green Corridor” initiative. We agree that the authorities responsible for customs and transport policies of our countries shouldwork together to create a unified digital system to facilitate the crossing of state borders by transporters of goods as part of developing the North-Center corridor, together with measures for enhanced cooperation between border police, immigration and other management authorities. Having these in mind, we express our determination to identify and employ sufficient resources for developing a proper and efficient infrastructure in our common border crossing points and in their proximity. We have underlined the importance of the Republic of Moldova-Romania-Ukraine trilateral format of dialogue and cooperation in bringing our states closer and reaffirmed our strong engagement to continue our coordination in this format. Mihail Popsoi Luminita Odobescu Dmytro Kuleba Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova of Romania of Ukraine Ge Li acohes “othe