Zelensky calls for reboot of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) deserves a reboot and significant activation. He made this statement at the BSEC summit, Rubryka reports.

"The Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation deserves a restart and substantial activation. This format of work is necessary, and all of us need it," said the president.

Zelensky stressed the importance of creating new lines of cooperation and addressing Russian aggression while restricting the aggressor's ability to exert pressure on any of the nations in the region.

"It's important to use this platform to restore real, honest peace and reintegrate the Black Sea area into the global security and economic space. We can achieve this together and by restraining the aggressor," said Zelensky.

He also asserted that Russia could no longer use the Black Sea as a platform for destabilizing other regions worldwide.

President Zelensky noted Ukraine's accomplishment in demonstrating how cooperation among the nations in the Black Sea region can restore stability to the global food market. This achievement includes safeguarding the western part of the Black Sea despite Russian blockades.

"We managed to take the initiative in the Black Sea and created such security conditions that forced the aggressor to flee from the eastern part of the waters and try to hide military ships," said the president.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine, as the world's first, had established a fleet of naval drones to counter Russian actions in the Black Sea.

"I want to emphasize one of the main results of our actions: Russia is unable to use the Black Sea as a platform to destabilize other regions of the world," said the head of state.

Background

The Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation is a sub-regional organization comprising 13 countries in the Black Sea region.

The member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) include Azerbaijan, Albania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The organization was created to foster close economic cooperation among member countries, facilitating the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labor and integrating the economies of these countries into the global economic system.

Ukraine's operations in the Black Sea

Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian ships in the Black Sea. Defenders have repeatedly attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the bays of Sevastopol. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have also struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the occupied city of Sevastopol.

On November 10, the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense conducted an operation using surface drones in Crimea. The Russian "Acula" amphibious ship and the "Serna" vessel were sunk.

Intelligence officers explained that these two small amphibious ships were crucial for the occupiers, serving as carriers of anti-aircraft missile systems.

In the year of the naval drone fleet's existence, eight Russian vessels were hit: "Admiral Makarov," "Ivan Golubets," "Ivan Khurs," "Sergey Kotov," "Neftevoy Mayak," "Novorossiysk," "Akula," and "Serna."