Ukraine and Romania have reached an agreement on the necessity of substantially modernizing the security system in the Black Sea region, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"We have agreed on the necessity of the substantial modernization of the security system in the Black Sea region," Poroshenko said at a press conference after meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday.

Poroshenko also announced a new phase of Ukrainian-Romanian bilateral relations.

"We have agreed to resume the activities of the joint presidential commission and hold its next session in the course of my visit to Bucharest," Poroshenko said.

According to Poroshenko, the parties "successfully discussed sensitive issues of bilateral relations, including the issue of the Danube – Black Sea Canal, and agreed to continue constructive dialogue on these issues at the bilateral level and at the level of international organizations."

Poroshenko has expressed his sincere gratitude to Romania for being the first country to ratify the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. He also thanked the EU and in particular Romania for their constant and persistent support of Ukraine, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity

In turn, Iohannis said that his country support improving relations with Ukraine and that his visit to Kyiv was proof of tha.

Romania wants to be a partner of Ukraine and share its experience in preparing for joining NATO or the EU. Thus, we touched upon the issue of continuing the implementation of internal reforms, especially for democratization and the development of the rule of law, Iohannis said.

He also spoke in favor of strengthening EU sanctions in case of an escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine.

Iohannis said that Romania's position was that EU sanctions against Russia should be prolonged until Minsk Agreements are fully implemented if the situation continues to deescalate.