Current Ukrainian-Romanian relations in the media discourse

Abstract

Ukrainian-Romanian relations have always aroused interest of the public, that is why monitoring of the publications about various aspects of these relations on the pages of modern periodicals, the basis of which is event-factual material, allows to reveal more fully the relations of the two neighboring states and to record historical events with all the most characteristic features. The main purpose of the article is to examine Ukrainian-Romanian relations at the current stage and their coverage in 2022 on the pages of Ukrainian and Romanian mass media. It is worth noting that this study does not pretend to be comprehensive, since several Ukrainian and Romanian newspapers were selected for analysis. The analysis of publications in the Ukrainian and Romanian mass media shows that Ukrainian-Romanian relations at the current stage, despite the war, continue to be a priority for the foreign policy of both states and are implemented in various dimensions: international, political, economic, military, cultural and universal human. Publications in the press regarding cooperation between the two countries are informative and quite diverse, the most relevant events are usually covered in all publications. Both Ukrainian and Romanian publications selected for consideration do not contain articles related to territorial and historical disputes, a negative sides of relations between two countries, and criticism of the situation of diasporas in both countries. It is clear that the effectiveness and dynamics of cooperation between two neighboring states is not measured by the number of publications in the Ukrainian and Romanian mass media, the number of positive messages in Romanian publications about Ukraine, and vice versa. However, the content of the posts demonstrates that Ukrainian-Romanian relations during Russo-Ukrainian war have undergone changes compared to previous periods, evolved from mutual accusations and claims to great support and cooperation, gaining new content and tendency to intensify bilateral cooperation. Romania remains a reliable partner and friend of Ukraine, supports its European integration aspirations, its desire to join NATO, and provides significant multifaceted assistance in the fight against the Russian aggressor.