On June 14, 2019, Mr. Yehor Bozhok, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine participated in the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum (Romania, Constanta).

In his statement on the Panel #[email protected] Security Challenges in the Black Sea Area and the Balkans Mr. Y.Bozhok stressed the necessity to further consolidation of the common efforts of the allies and partners in the Black Sea region as well as further support of Ukraine to deterrence against Russian Federation’s aggression and enforcement of international law. Strengthening sanctions pressure and the implementation of strategic deterrents is an imperative reaction from the Alliance to Russia's militarization of the Crimea and the destabilization of the Black Sea region.

During his visit to Romania, the Deputy Minister also met with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Patrick Turner. They discussed the need to develop the capacity of strategic deterrents in the Black Sea region, emphasizing Ukraine's readiness to support these efforts.

On the margins of the conference, a separate meeting with Minister of National Defense of Romania Gabriel Les was also held. The urgent issues of bilateral military-technical cooperation and holding of joint measures of coordination and interaction in the defence sphere, as well as prospects of signing the Agreement on military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Romania were discussed.