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Tag: Black Sea

Why the Black Sea is vital to Ukraine

Ukraine’s successes in the Black Sea are among the most unexpected developments in the current war waged by Russia in the country since 2022. Russia aimed to defeat Ukraine not only through military means but also by crippling its economy. This scenario did not materialize. On the contrary, Ukraine's military, economic and logistical gains in the Black Sea and Danube waterways secured critical export revenues for Kyiv, allowing the Ukrainian state to function.

On February 24th 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine not only from land and air, but also from the sea. The Russian fleet occupied the entire Azov Sea and almost all of the Ukrainian Black Sea basin. At first, the Russians captured the strategically important Snake Island located near the coast of Romania. For several months they also occupied Kherson and its seaport, as well as attempted a landing at Odesa. They blocked Ukrainian ports to strangle the economy, drive the state budget into bankruptcy and cause social unrest. The Kremlin hoped that the lack of export revenues would in the end lead to Kyiv’s capitulation.

July 8, 2025 - Jakub Łoginow

Russian war on the environment: the Danube delta, Romania and Ukraine

The environmental impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can be seen in many areas. This is clear with regards to the country’s coastline, where damage is now being countered by dedicated efforts at conservation and rewilding.

May 23, 2025 - Anna Romandash Marine Leduc

Black Sea oil spill: political aspects of an environmental disaster

A recent oil spill involving two Russian tankers has highlighted the ongoing environmental issues facing the Black Sea. Naturally overshadowed by concerns about the front line in Ukraine, this episode calls attention to risks linked to maritime activity and geopolitical tensions in the region. A renewed effort at cooperation among local states will be necessary to address such challenges.

February 18, 2025 - Maroš Cuník

Three Seas Initiative goes beyond abstract regional concept

The idea of an alliance between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has remained a popular theory over the past century. Despite this, outside actors have kept such an idea from becoming reality. The Three Seas Initiative of today possesses the potential to truly realize this coalition in testing times.

April 10, 2024 - Jozef Hrabina

Ukraine’s strategic resurgence: redefining power dynamics in the Black Sea

While reports from Ukraine have remained focused on the land war, the fight at sea continues with little respite. The country’s successes in the naval battle have come against all the odds and should only encourage allies to beef up support for Kyiv’s victory.

April 9, 2024 - Leon Hartwell

“Keep Russia out, America in, and Europe up”

An interview with Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, former chairman of the NATO Military Committee and Italian defence minister. Interviewer: Vazha Tavberidze.

August 25, 2023 - Giampaolo Di Paola Vazha Tavberidze

The Black Sea is crucial for the EU and NATO, but neglected

The Black See plays a key role in the Russian aggression on Ukraine. Together with the Caucasus, it also has an important role for the EU and NATO. Despite its crucial location, political and economic significance, the West has neglected the area, as argued by Wilfried Jilge, an expert on Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the Black Sea Region at the Center of International Peace Operations in Berlin. Interview conducted by John Beauchamp, a long-time radio journalist and the voice of the Warsaw Metro.

January 20, 2023 - John Beauchamp Wilfried Jilge

Security in the Black Sea region after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine in 2022 triggered a reshaping of the entire security architecture in the Black Sea region and the whole of Europe. How does the expert community perceive the changes to regional security? What are the lessons learned for the international and regional actors? What could be done to restore and maintain security in the Black Sea region?

September 29, 2022 - Hanna Shelest Maksym Khylko

Closing the window of opportunity for Russia?

The unclear NATO membership status of Georgia and Ukraine creates ambiguity and vulnerability in the ‘grey zone’ area of the Black Sea.

June 7, 2021 - Silvie Leštinská

Stuck in post-election limbo, Sofia holds the key to developments in the Black Sea and the Balkans

Another Bulgarian parliamentary election is scheduled for July 11th, after the GERB party failed to form a coalition. The next Bulgarian government will face choices that will have implications for the stability in both the Black Sea and Western Balkans.

May 31, 2021 - Aleksandar Malinov

Turkey: A littoral middle power?

When Turkey's relationship with the Black Sea is viewed through the lens of geopolitics, it becomes clear that Russia will never be far away.

October 13, 2020 - Abdulmelik Alkan

The South Caucasus conundrum in the Black Sea

In the context of new levels of co-operation between western-aligned countries in the Black Sea region, NATO should focus on pursuing meaningful actions with regional partners that share its vision. At the same time, the Alliance should take advantage of every opportunity to make the region a platform for decreasing conflict and accommodating competing interests.

The recent NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum held in October 2019 rightly underlined the need for new ideas, skills and partnerships. It also stressed the need for viable security structures that are capable of meeting modern challenges. These needs are especially relevant when considering the current geopolitics and geoeconomics of the Black Sea region.

July 7, 2020 - Victor Kipiani

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