Ukraine and Romania to hold First Black Sea Security Conference of International Crimea Platform in Bucharest

The unprovoked and unjustified military aggression of russia against Ukraine has challenged the security system in the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions. In order to find effective ways to respond to these challenges and provide opportunities for sustainable development to all peaceful countries of the region, Ukraine initiated the First Black Sea Security Conference, which will be held jointly with Romania on April 12-13 in Bucharest.

This event is a part of the International Crimea Platform, a mechanism aimed at the de-occupation of Crimea, restoration of the Black Sea, European, and global security.

The conference is held by: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, and the Ministry of National Defense of Romania, in partnership with the Centre for Defence Strategies (Ukraine).

The ministers of foreign affairs and defenсe ministers, heads of international institutions, government officials and independent experts, representing the participants of the International Crimea Platform, will take part in the Conference. They will analyze the multidimensional impact of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine on the security situation in the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions and beyond; discuss a possible strategy for responding to challenges and threats, as well as the pillars of the future configuration of the security system in the region.

Issues of information warfare and cyberattacks will also be in the spotlight.

Conference program

First day (expert panels):

• Presentation of the non-paper from Crimea Platform Expert Network: Future security configuration of the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions. Expert discussion.
• Expert discussion. The first cyber war.
• Expert discussion. How russia’s information warfare operates (on the example of temporarily occupied Crimea) and why it challenges the international security system.

Second day (official representatives):

• Panel discussion: Lessons learnt: full-scale invasion of the russian federation in Ukraine, its multidimensional impact, and lessons for the democratic world.
• Panel discussion: Plan for today. Immediate responses to the current threats and challenges in the wider Black Sea region.
• Panel discussion: Future Configuration. What is the future of regional security in the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions? Towards a Euro-Atlantic strategy for a stable, secure and prosperous region.