The Black Sea Security Forum 2025 in Odesa brought together lawmakers, arms inspectors, humanitarian leaders, investors, ambassadors, and top officials from dozens of countries.
The gathering happened despite ongoing Russian attacks on the city. Unable to reach Odesa – Ukraine’s main port on the Black Sea – the Kremlin has resorted to brutal drone and ballistic missile strikes targeting civilians.
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Yet despite this, Odesans continue to live and work. And the port city continues to receive dozens of ships that maintain Ukraine’s import and export trade – which the Ukrainian Armed Forces reopened by driving the Russian fleet away from the city with a series of successful strikes.
This year, hundreds of participants gathered for the forum held in Odesa’s crown jewel – the National Opera House – in defiance of Russian missile threats. Attendees included four ambassadors and several former ambassadors, two former Prime Ministers of Australia, members of the UK Parliament and US Congress, NATO officials, and hundreds of specialists and public figures – from arms inspectors to humanitarian mission leaders.
Russian Strike Hits Energy and Civilian Infrastructure in Odesa Region, Injuring One
“I’ve done three missions with him. First one to Pokrovsk, second – from D-Day Normandy to Bucha! 45 ambulances to Bucha. And the third one from Brussels to Kyiv and Shostka. No government money, just private money going to this group,” Chris Fussner, Founder and Owner, TransTechnology Pte. Ltd, said.
“The Black Sea is strategically important, this is a military term, we hear about Ukrainian successes in keeping the corridor open and driving away the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” Luc Jacobs, Ambassador of Belgium to Ukraine, said.
“Odesa is Crucial, we want to send a signal. This is a key to the world for Ukraine; it’s a port, but also has many security issues. Not only in Kyiv is politics being made. We want to show the people of Odesa and the surrounding areas that we care and see them. The security of this region matters greatly for Ukraine, but at the same time, the movement of grain and other goods is vital for the world,” said Maximilian Rasch, Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine.
“This city is playing a role not only as the maritime capital of UA for export, but also now it has started playing a key role in security for the Black Sea. Interestingly, Europe, the USA, Great Britain, and even Australia have started taking responsibility for this security,” journalist Ugo Poletti said.
The forum’s main focus was support for Ukraine and the search for ways to end the war. The tone of the discussions varied – from cautiously optimistic…
“We are all anticipating and hoping for a ceasefire very soon. And if one is not on equal terms, it will be a topic for the G7 and the coalition anyway. This war is not just about drones and defense technologies. While that is important, it is also about other aspects, like information, counter-narrative. So, you can use defense technologies, sanctions… You can use them as carrots; you can use them as sticks. And these are all tools that we can use,” said Natalka Cmoc, Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine.
“It is a positive view that Ukraine can win this war. We don’t know how it will end up, or what the [negotiated] terms will be, or when. But we know that Ukraine will continue to be, to exist, and to move to Europe and join it because of its resilience. The US policy can provide strong support for Ukraine. I know that it’s confusing, a lot of messages coming in. But the American people are strong supporters of Ukraine and Ukrainian sovereignty, that is my clear message,” said William Brockenbrough Taylor, former US Ambassador to Ukraine (2006-2009).
… to restrained and realistic.
“More realistically, not for the first time, but the third, possibly since Russia’s full-scale invasion, they eliminated all available opportunities. We will go through the next months of this very intensive war, but then we will have another window of opportunity next fall, when Ukraine will be in a better position with more weapons from the EU and the US, and we’ll have more expectations of sanctions. And I hope oil prices will go down,” said Valeriy Chaly, former Ambassador of Ukraine to the US (2015-2019).
In addition to discussions on sanctions, peace negotiations, and military support for Ukraine, a separate panel focused on international support for the postwar period. There is a growing consensus in the West that Ukraine will emerge as a major player in Eastern Europe and a key representative of Western civilization on the Black Sea.
“This region, this part of Europe, from the economic point of view, is absolutely important,” said Jacob Torrild Hansen, Head of Mykolaiv Recovery Program, Danish Embassy Office in Mykolaiv.
“We have to make sure that the investments we make into the critical infrastructure are sustainable. That Ukrainians will be able to run all these substations for many years, and we need businesses to come back to the region,” Hansen said.
Piotr Lukasiewicz, Chargé d’affaires of Poland to Ukraine, said: “The Baltic and Black Seas share one important factor: the Russian fleet. The successes Ukraine has achieved against [the Kremlin’s navy] are very important for us to consider, observe, and learn from this experience. My message is that the Baltic Sea is with you! Every corner of sovereign Ukraine is in our interest and receives our support!”
You can find the video of this story here.
Photos by Kyiv Post
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