In Odesa, we had the honor of welcoming our great friend and partner — Kurt Volker, American diplomat and former U.S. Department of State Special Representative for Ukraine.
During the meeting, we presented the concept of the national project for the revival of Ukrainian Danube, developed by the Ukraine Rebuilding Alliance in cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Regions «EU Strategy for the Danube Region». The document covers economy, politics, ecology, logistics, and the cultural dimension, forming a vision of the Danube region as a powerful center of Ukraine’s integration into the Danube, Black Sea, and European space.
“This document is the result of several months of analysis, expert consultations, and work with regional communities. It covers all key dimensions of development: economy, politics, ecology, and the specific features of the Danube and Black Sea basins. Kurt, as always, demonstrated deep interest in Ukraine,” noted Yuriy Maslov, Head of the Alliance for Ukraine’s Recovery.
We are grateful to Kurt for his deep attention and engagement: he carefully reviewed the analysis, asked strategic questions, and even the next day presented his own ideas and recommendations for improving our work.
The program in Odesa also had a bright cultural aspect. We visited the Odesa Philharmonic, the Museum of Western and Eastern Art, and the Archaeological Museum, discussing heritage, development prospects, and the restoration of cultural institutions.
“A special depth came from an unexpected parallel: on Saturday evening we discussed development prospects around Zmiinyi Island and its shelves — energy, logistics, security. And the very next morning we found ourselves among a unique exhibition of artifacts raised from the waters near Zmiinyi. Before our eyes — the evidence of millennia of history intersecting with today’s geopolitical challenges,” added Yuriy Maslov.
For us, this meeting confirmed that we are moving in the right direction, shaping development strategies that matter for the international agenda.
