The second panel discussion of the second day of the Second Black Sea Security Conference
During the second panel discussion “Winning the Battle for the Black Sea: Military Strategy for Ukraine” Atanas Zapryanov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria; Admiral Igor Voronchenko, General inspector of the Main inspectorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Admiral of the Ukrainian Navy and former Navy Commander; Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania; Pål Jonson, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Sweden; Judith Collins, Minister of Defence of New Zealand; Rear Admiral Refik Levent Tezcan, Deputy Director General for Defence and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye; The Earl of Minto, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom; Dragan Krapović, Minister of Defence of Montenegro, performed the speech.
The discussion was moderated by Alina Frolova, Security Track Coordinator of the Crimea Platform Expert Network, Deputy Chairperson of the Centre for Defence Strategies, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine (2019-2020).
“The last year has been a turning point for Ukraine in its actions on the Black Sea,” stated Admiral Igor Voronchenko, General inspector of the Main inspectorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Admiral of the Ukrainian Navy and former Navy Commander.
Igor Voronchenko emphasized: “One of the important changes in Ukraine’s actions in the Black Sea was the usage of surface unmanned aircraft that allow monitoring of Russian missile carriers deployed in the Black Sea basin.” According to the Admiral, an important step towards ensuring stability in the Black Sea region is to prevent Russia’s actions, since it has already occupied Crimea and invaded part of Ukraine.
Igor Voronchenko also noted the importance of the Crimea Platform as a space for discussing and solving the problems caused by Russia’s aggressive policy.
“Bulgaria is going to implement an investment support program for Ukraine. It may be enacted as soon as next year.” This was announced by Atanas Zapryanov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.
He also noted that Bulgaria has developed a new national defense strategy: “It takes into account the changes in the global security system, given Russia’s destabilizing actions. We have developed a comprehensive and integral plan that focuses on taking measures to achieve the government’s goals in this area. The corresponding document will be released at the end of 2024. In the government, we are making every effort to prepare this document by the new program for the development of the armed forces. Given the immediate need to rearm our armed forces, we are going to increase the share of GDP allocated to defense, and this year our defense budget will be equal to 2% of state GDP. In the future, we are going to increase this share to 2.5%,” said the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Earl of Minto, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom stated: “The Maritime Capability Coalition will help Ukraine build its fleet in the future, which will complement NATO forces. Together we have laid the foundation for security. Together, we can help Ukraine become a powerful player in this field and ensure security in the region.”
He reminded that the security of the Black Sea is not only a problem of Ukraine. The UK is proud of the level of support it currently provides to Ukraine. Norway and the United Kingdom, as members of the Maritime Capability Coalition, provide support and training to the Ukrainian army.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, mentioned: “Lithuania will continue its efforts to support Ukraine”.
However, Laurynas Kasčiūnas also noted: “But there is a feeling that this is not enough. Ukraine still lacks weapons and defense equipment. You can see how civilians and infrastructure are suffering. That’s why we are here to contribute our resources to support Ukraine, especially in the defense sector. Ukrainians are buying us time, Ukrainians are fighting a real evil. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting not only for Ukraine but for our security, for our freedom, we have to understand this. If Ukraine does not win, we will face serious problems.”
Rear Admiral Refik Levent Tezcan, Deputy Director General for Defence and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, pointed out that the latest technologies, in particular maritime drones, have become a key factor in the battle in the Black Sea as part of counteracting Russian aggression. Therefore, control over the production of such drones is crucial. Such technologies in the wrong hands will threaten shipping throughout the region. Drifting mines also remain a big problem in the Black Sea. Together with Bulgaria and Romania, Turkey has established a work group that will make efforts at the regional level to demine the area.
Judith Collins, Minister of Defence of New Zealand, announced that the New Zealand Defense Forces will provide training in maritime explosive ordnance disposal for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This will be part of a $26 million aid package that also includes humanitarian aid, reconstruction assistance, and a contribution to an international fund for Ukraine to purchase weapons and ammunition, as well as new sanctions in response to the invasion imposed by our law sanctions against Russia.
During the Second Black Sea Security Conference, Swedish Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oscar Bolin, noted that Ukraine has succeeded in preventing Russia from engaging its military potential in the temporarily occupied Crimea:
“Ukraine has taken measures to ensure the security of maritime communications, used airborne forces to support the land campaign, and delivered a strategic strike against critical Russian capabilities. Despite its limited maritime resources, the Ukrainian Navy managed to deny access to the sea in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. They have also managed to weaken the Russian Black Sea Fleet. These actions need to be expanded to establish control over the sea and maintain secure maritime communications. By being creative and courageous, Ukraine has achieved change in the maritime arena through indirect methods and alternative means. Russia, on the other hand, showed the cost of self-confidence. At the strategic level, Russia had a maritime advantage, but it was destroyed by Ukraine’s innovative naval actions. The usage of unmanned systems can have an effect at all levels — tactical, operational, and strategic.”