site.btaRomania, Ukraine Agree on Doubling Transit Capacity for Ukrainian Exports through Romanian Ports

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have agreed to speed up infrastructure projects to double transit capacity through Romanian ports for exports from Ukraine, AGERPRES reported.

The two held a meeting Tuesday at the Victoria Palace as part of the Ukrainian President's official visit to Romania.

Ciolacu and Zelenskyy discussed joint efforts to improve cross-border connectivity between Romania and Ukraine and agreed to accelerate infrastructure projects with the aim of doubling transit capacity through Romanian ports on the Danube and Black Sea from 2 million tons to 4 million tons for Ukrainian exports, AGERPRES said, quoting the Romanian Government's press service.

Zelenskyy, who is on his first official visit to Romania since the start of the war, met earlier in the day with President Klaus Iohannis. The Ukrainian head of State also had meetings with the presidents of the two chambers of the Romanian parliament and with MPs, but did not deliver a speech in the legislature.

Romanian media reported that Zelenskyy's speech to Parliament was cancelled due to fears of a reaction from some pro-Russian MPs.

At the joint press conference of the two presidents, Klaus Iohannis was asked why Zelenskyy's speech had been cancelled. Iohannis said the agenda of the Ukrainian President's visit had been agreed between the two delegations.

Zelenskyy interjected in English and asked why the question had not been addressed to him but to the Romanian President. The Ukrainian President clarified that his agenda did not include a speech to the Romanian Parliament, but promised to prepare one next time.