The Ukrainian Ministry for Communities and Territories and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are enhancing their collaboration to improve the security of Ukraine's ports and the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy KuLEBA met with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to discuss key areas of cooperation.

This marks Arsenio Dominguez's first visit to Ukraine.

Also present at the meeting were First Deputy Minister Alona Shkrum, Deputy Minister Andriy Kashuba, and IMO representative Ismael Cobos Delgado.

“We are pleased to welcome Secretary-General Dominguez to Ukraine. It is vital for us to continue working together to ensure navigation safety, as this not only concerns our economy but also global food security. Since the launch of the Ukrainian maritime corridor, over 109 million tons of cargo have been transported, with 70 million tons being grain sent to Africa, Asia, and Europe.

It is also essential to keep pressure on Russia’s shadow tanker fleet, which continues to transport oil and fund terror despite sanctions.

I would like to thank the International Maritime Organization for its ongoing support for Ukraine. We believe that together we can achieve IMO's main goal: ensuring safe navigation and high protection levels for those who work at sea,” noted Oleksiy KuLEBA.

Alona Shkrum outlined the main losses in the maritime sector since the onset of the full-scale invasion, including 385 destroyed port infrastructure objects and 31 affected civilian vessels.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that a strong position from the IMO is crucial for better protecting Ukraine's port infrastructure in the future. After the attack on Odesa port on March 11, which severely damaged the ship "MJ PINA" and resulted in the deaths of four Syrian citizens, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the killing of seafarers.

During the meeting, he assured the Ministry team that the IMO is ready for active cooperation and will continue to support Ukraine in the future. The parties agreed to maintain contact, with Oleksiy KuLEBA inviting the IMO Secretary-General to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025, set to be held in Rome.

It is worth noting that in July 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the Maritime Security Strategy, which aims to uphold international commitments according to IMO conventions.

Furthermore, Ukraine's strategic plans include joining several other international conventions related to navigation and maritime safety.

The parties decided to collaborate under the Ukraine Maritime Transport Recovery Plan, developed by the Ministry in conjunction with Estonia's Ministry of Climate, with a total budget of 550 million euros.

Note: The IMO is the main international organization regulating international trade shipping. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the IMO has made several important decisions in support of Ukraine, including expelling the Russian Federation from the IMO Council.