Southeast Europe unites in support of Ukraine in Odessa
Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Moldovan President Maia Sandu are participating in the Southeastern European Regional Summit of Solidarity with Ukraine, held today, June 11, in Odessa.
For security reasons, detailed logistical information about the event has not been disclosed. Experts expect the Summit to focus on regional security, economic support for Ukraine, and facilitating free movement across the Black Sea and the Danube.
The Summit is taking place under heightened security measures due to the large-scale attacks launched by the Russian Federation.
Black Sea expert Mihai Isac anticipates that discussions will primarily address defense cooperation, economic assistance for Ukraine, and Ukraine’s inclusion in major regional energy projects. He highlights that the presence of the Bulgarian and Greek prime ministers in Odessa will strengthen regional relations.
“Participating countries—including Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece—aim to enhance bilateral ties with Ukraine. One key objective is to ensure that local companies participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction, which is expected to be the most ambitious rebuilding effort of the next fifty years,” the expert explains.
Isac adds that Ukraine is a strategic partner for both Romania and Moldova. These countries will actively contribute to the reconstruction process by serving as essential logistical hubs for transporting goods, construction materials, and other resources.
He recommends that authorities in Chișinău and Bucharest establish clear governmental mechanisms to facilitate the involvement of domestic companies and foreign firms capable of recruiting local labor.
Political analyst Marin Gherman from Bucovina underscores the symbolic significance of the Romanian President’s visit, noting that the last Romanian head of state to visit Odessa was Emil Constantinescu more than twenty years ago.
Gherman also points to the message of support the presidents of Romania and Moldova are sending to the Romanian community in southern Ukraine amid ongoing hybrid aggression by Russia. At the regional level, he emphasizes the crucial role of Romania and Bulgaria, as European Union members, alongside Moldova in the security architecture of Southeastern Europe.
“Romania plays a pivotal role in maintaining security in the Black Sea region,” says Gherman. He believes Romania and Bulgaria have the capacity to counterbalance the “harmful influences” of the Russian Federation, which, according to him, “seeks to turn the Black Sea into a Russian lake.”
“Moldova’s role is secondary but essential. Its stability decisively contributes to the security equation that can be constructed in the Black Sea region with Romania’s support,” Gherman stresses.
This Summit is part of a series of regional meetings aimed at strengthening ties between Ukraine and Southeastern European countries. The first such high-level meeting was hosted by Greece in Athens in August 2023, according to the press office of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
