Mykola Kalashnyk met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister: focus on developing alternative logistics routes

Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine Mykola Kalashnyk held a working meeting in Odesa region with Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Bolea.

The meeting continued the agreements reached during the previous video conversation. The parties focused on practical solutions to improve transport connections between Ukraine and Moldova, speed up border crossing, and expand logistics opportunities for Ukrainian businesses.

One of the key issues was ensuring unobstructed movement between Odesa and the Danube region. To this end, the parties are working on securing free and safe transit along the 7‑kilometer section of the M‑15 highway near Palanca.

The parties also addressed preparations for opening a new joint border crossing point between Ukraine and Moldova. Its launch is expected to increase border throughput, reduce crossing time, and create additional opportunities for cargo and passenger transportation.

"Agreements with Moldova are being translated into concrete solutions. Our task is to ensure more routes, faster border crossings, and more resilient logistics between Ukraine, Moldova, and the European Union. This is important for people, for business, and for the stable operation of Ukrainian exports," noted Mykola Kalashnyk.

A separate block of negotiations concerned railway connections. The Moldovan side is preparing proposals on the possibility of providing Ukraine with 20 locomotives at Ukraine’s request.

The parties also discussed the need to ensure competitive railway tariffs and expand the number of routes for Ukrainian cargo through Moldova to Romania’s Constanța port.

The development of such routes is especially important given constant russian attacks on Ukraine’s transport infrastructure and the need to have reliable backup logistics directions for export and import.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue coordination at the working level and accelerate the implementation of agreed decisions in the fields of road, rail, and border connectivity.