Editor’s note: The story has been updated with the latest details.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Romanian counterpart, Nicusor Dan, signed a strategic partnership declaration during the former’s visit to Bucharest on March 12.

The two leaders also agreed to expand cooperation in the energy and defense sectors, signaling closer ties between the neighboring countries.

According to Dan, the two countries would jointly produce drones, an increasingly vital weapon in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russian attack drones have repeatedly crashed in Romanian territory during attacks on Ukraine.

Ukraine is also constructing two new power supply lines with Romania to strengthen energy security in Ukrainian border regions, Zelensky said.

“The work is starting, and this is something that can support our regions, in particular Chernivtsi Oblast,” the Ukrainian president said in a joint press conference with Dan.

“This is something that will allow Romania to become stronger in terms of ensuring energy security in our part of Europe.”

The two sides also discussed cooperation in importing American liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Ukraine and in the joint development of Ukrainian gas fields.

Ukraine’s reconstruction and European Union enlargement are also on the agenda of Zelensky’s visit, the Romanian presidency said earlier.

According to Zelensky’s office, during the visit, the Ukrainian leader will travel with Dan to a training center where Ukrainian pilots are learning to operate F-16 fighter jets.

The training center opened in 2023 to prepare Ukrainian pilots to operate Western-supplied aircraft.

Romania, a member of NATO, has emerged as one of Kyiv’s key regional partners since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Bucharest has provided military assistance, supported sanctions against Russia, and signed a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv.

Since winning the 2025 presidential election against a candidate widely seen as skeptical of Ukraine, Dan has taken a supportive stance toward Kyiv and strengthened bilateral cooperation.