The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine is enhancing its collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure the safety of Ukrainian ports and the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba met with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to discuss strategic cooperation priorities for maritime safety in the region.
This marks Arsenio Dominguez's first visit to Ukraine.
Key ministry representatives, including First Deputy Minister Alona Shkrum, also attended the meeting.
"I am pleased to welcome Secretary-General Dominguez to Ukraine. It's crucial for us to continue our joint efforts in ensuring maritime safety, protecting human lives, and preserving ecological safety. The protection of ports is vital not only for our economic stability but also for global food security. Since the launch of the Ukrainian maritime corridor, 109 million tons of cargo have been transported, including 70 million tons of grain. That's over 4000 vessels delivering food to Africa, Asia, and Europe. The world is counting on us.
It is also important to maintain pressure on Russia's shadow tanker fleet, which, despite sanctions, continues to transport oil globally, providing financial resources for terrorism and war against Ukraine.
I want to thank the International Maritime Organization for its ongoing support for Ukraine. We believe that together we can achieve the main global goal of the IMO: to ensure safe navigation and a high level of protection for those working at sea," stated Oleksiy Kuleba.
Alona Shkrum outlined the key losses in the maritime sector since the full-scale invasion, including 385 destroyed port infrastructure facilities and 31 affected civilian vessels.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of a strong position from the IMO to better protect Ukraine's port infrastructure in the future. Following the shelling of the Odesa port on March 11, which severely damaged the vessel "MJ PINA" and resulted in the deaths of four Syrian citizens, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the killings of sailors.
During the meeting, he assured the Ministry team that the IMO is ready for active cooperation and will continue providing stable support to Ukraine. The parties agreed to maintain contact, with Oleksiy Kuleba inviting the Secretary-General of the IMO to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, scheduled for this July in Rome. It is worth noting that in July 2024, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky approved the Maritime Security Strategy of Ukraine.
Additionally, Ukraine's strategic plans include joining several other international conventions related to navigation and maritime safety.
The parties agreed to cooperate within the framework of the Ukrainian Maritime Transport Recovery Plan, developed in collaboration with the Estonian Ministry of Climate in early 2024. The detailed plan covers all critical areas of Ukraine's maritime sector and has a total budget of 550 million euros.
For reference, the IMO is the main international organization that regulates international maritime trade. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the IMO has made several crucial decisions to support Ukraine.