On May 29, 2026, Odesa became the center for discussing the future of southern Ukraine, hosting the large-scale Ukrainian Danube Conference 2026. The event was organized by the Association of Ukrainian Regions “EU Strategy for the Danube Region”, the Basin Council of the Lower Danube, and the Ukraine Rebuilding Alliance.
We brought together diplomats, Ukrainian government officials, environmentalists, business representatives, and European experts for a common goal: to develop an effective macro-regional strategy for the development, security, and preservation of the Danube basin.
A significant testament to international attention was the participation of U.S. representatives: Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education Tim Walberg and U.S. State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker.
The main leitmotif of the forum was the comprehensive European integration transformation of the Danube region. The unique geographical location at the intersection of river and sea routes makes this region a key driver of growth for the entire South of Ukraine.
At the same time, infrastructural development must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. In addition to the development of port capacities, which have been saving Ukrainian exports since 2022, huge potential lies in the field of green energy, biomethane, and agricultural processing.
The environmental block became one of the central themes at the conference. The Danube Delta, lake systems, and coastal zones are among the most valuable natural areas in Europe with unique biodiversity. Implementing the principles of the EU Green Deal and preserving these ecosystems is our absolute priority.
The plan for the balanced development of the Danube region was presented by the President of the Association of Ukrainian Regions “EU Strategy for the Danube Region”, Yuriy Maslov: “The Ukrainian Danube region is one of the most strategically important subregions of Ukraine and the Black Sea area. It combines a unique ecological cluster of global significance, an important transport and logistics hub of international trade routes, and a key element of economic and food security in the world. The full development of our region is impossible without deep integration into European macro-regional structures, in particular through the instruments of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region”.
Transport initiatives were voiced by the Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, Andriy Kashuba: “Today, the Ukrainian Danube region is confidently forming as a new logistics center of Europe. Our absolute priority is the development of ports, guaranteeing the safety of navigation, and the full integration of our transport network into the European TEN-T corridors. It is also important to focus on the creation of industrial parks in the Danube region as one of the tools for attracting investment and development. We must use the existing available land as efficiently as possible to create added value and attract additional volumes of cargo to the region. Today, the legislation provides all the opportunities for this”.
The Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, Serhiy Sukhomlyn, revealed plans regarding infrastructure: “To ensure the resilience of the region, we are implementing key restoration projects. Strategic plans include the construction of the M-15 Odesa-Reni highway bypassing the village of Palanka and a fast infrastructure connection across the Dniester River. At the same time, a critical issue is drinking water: the construction of the Suvorov and Bolhrad main water pipelines will provide water from the Danube River to more than 20,000 residents in dozens of settlements”.
The Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, Hanna Zamazieieva, emphasized green development: “The Ukrainian Danube region has all the prerequisites to become a driver of the European ‘green transition’. The development of sustainable energy in the region will stimulate the local economy, strengthen Ukraine’s energy independence, and ensure deeper integration into the European energy market. The region is characterized by some of the highest solar insolation and wind potential indicators in Ukraine, as well as a powerful raw material base for bioenergy. This opens up colossal prospects for the production of biomethane, ‘green’ hydrogen, and the development of the Danube Hydrogen Valley”.
The panel discussion, moderated by Pavlo Unguryan, confirmed the need for the synchronous development of all sectors in the region. Their cases were presented by:
- Yuliia Hryshyna, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Subcommittee, who emphasized the importance of human capital development and innovations.
Pavlo Bulanovych, Acting Head of the Basin Authority of Water Resources, who presented a strategy for the revitalization of water bodies (in particular, the Kyslytskyi branch) and the attraction of investments within the framework of Ukraine’s presidency of the ICPDR.
Serhii Hurskyi, Head of the Maritime Administration, who outlined the paths for developing multimodal logistics on the Danube.
Viktor Kurtev, CEO of the “Metropoliya” Group of Companies, with a vision for the “Danube Hydrogen Valley” project.
Taras Kot, First Deputy Head of the State Agency of Fisheries, with a plan for the restoration of reclamation systems for the agricultural sector.
Summing up the outcomes, Yuriy Maslov concluded: “All these initiatives, from land reclamation to logistics, form a single national project ‘Ukrainian Danube Region 2026’. We must implement a long-term vision of development and a systemic roadmap ‘Danube Region 2035’ to transform the region into a southern outpost of national security and a reliable economic bridge between Ukraine and the European Union”.
The Ukrainian Danube Conference 2026 confirmed that a strong and green Danube region is the result of joint efforts. We thank our partners for the constructive dialogue!
