Ukraine and Romania strengthen cooperation on Black Sea maritime security
Kyiv — Ukrainian and Romanian officials met this week to discuss expanding cooperation in maritime security, with a focus on the establishment of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, a European Union initiative designed to enhance the safety of regional maritime routes, protect critical infrastructure, and promote collaboration among Black Sea nations.
The meeting took place at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and brought together senior representatives from both countries.
The Ukrainian delegation was led by Deputy Minister Andrii Kashuba, while the Romanian side included Victor Micula, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Ukraine; Anamaria Sandor, Deputy Head of Mission; Adrian-Gheorghe Scutaru, Co-founder and Executive Director of the New Strategy Center; Razvan Maties, EU Funding Expert; and Kateryna Dadiverina, International Relations Expert at the New Strategy Center.
Romanian representatives underlined the importance of Ukraine’s active involvement in the work of the new Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, highlighting the country’s wartime experience in safeguarding maritime routes. They invited Ukraine to delegate experts to participate in joint exercises and expressed confidence that closer cooperation would strengthen maritime security for Ukraine, Romania, and the entire European Union.
Discussions also covered navigation along the Danube River, with both sides exploring ways to bolster safety and regional support.
“We understand the strategic importance of developing navigation on the Danube. We are working to ensure maximum safety of navigation and to protect our people in ports and at sea. Our goal is to make Ukrainian ports safe and reliable, even in wartime conditions. The recent attacks on port and urban infrastructure along the Danube once again confirm how crucial it is to strengthen cooperation with partners in the field of maritime security,” said Andrii Kashuba.
The two delegations also discussed strengthening engineering protection for critical port infrastructure and enhancing air defense capabilities in coastal regions.
Another key topic was consolidating international support for Ukraine within the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Deputy Minister Kashuba stressed the importance of maintaining a unified European position ahead of the upcoming IMO Council elections at the end of November.
The Ukrainian side urged partners to block Russia’s return to Category A membership, arguing that a country violating international maritime law and committing acts of aggression at sea should not hold a leadership role in an organization responsible for global navigation safety.
The meeting reaffirmed Ukraine and Romania’s shared commitment to regional stability and secure maritime development in the Black Sea area.
