Challenges and Threats to the Black Sea Region. Is a New Escalation Possible?

Challenges and Threats to the Black Sea Region. Is a New Escalation Possible?

The international online round table“Challenges and Threats to the Black Sea Region” will be held from 14.30 till 16.30 (Kyiv time) on July 31, 2020, by the Centre for Global Studies “Strategy XXI” in the framework of the project "Promoting Security in the Black Sea Region through Greater Engagement of Non-Governmental Organizations", with the support of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.

Speakers: Mykhailo Gonchar, President of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI"; Vitalii Martyniuk, Executive Director of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI"; Mykhailo Samus, Deputy Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies; Borys Babin, Chief Researcher, Legislation Institute of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; Yury Fedorov, Russian political and military expert; Andrii Klymenko, Chief Editor, BlackSeaNews; Gela Vasadze, Host of the Big Game TV program (Georgia).

Short Description. At the event, representatives of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI" will present a final policy paper on the state of Black Sea security, based on the results of a monitoring of the situation in the Black Sea region in the framework of the project "Promoting Security in the Black Sea Region through Greater Engagement of Non-Governmental Organizations" with the support of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

The Black Sea region remains in the focus of the international community with regard to the existing, new and potential threats to its security. Military and political tensions in the Azov, Black and Mediterranean seas are growing. The generator of these tensions is Russia, which is increasingly demonstrating its military dominance in the Azov-Black Sea area. The sudden bringing of Russian troops in higher levels of combat readiness, the strengthening of its air defense system, Putin's visit to Crimea, preparations for the strategic military exercises Caucasus 2020 and the demonstration of aggressive rhetoric in the Kremlin's foreign policy indicate that the Russian leadership does not change its militaristic course.

The multilateral exercises Sea Breeze 2020, which took place from 20 to 26 July 2020 in the Black Sea, were not out of Russia’s attention. The Russian side has traditionally resorted to open provocations, disregarding not only the participating countries, but also the rules of international law. The Kremlin has an unbridled desire to wield weapons against the backdrop of numerous domestic problems. The Black Sea region is the most vulnerable to new tensions, and Ukraine is on the brink of a potential blow.

The issues to be discussed:

What are Russia's real intentions in the military dimension?

Can the demonstration of military force by Russia turn into open military actions against Ukraine?

What provocations can the Russian side resort to?

What are the consequences of Russia's aggression for human rights in occupied Crimea?

Is it possible to defeat Russia in the legal dimension?

What are the energy challenges and threats in the Black Sea region?

How do experts from the Caucasus and the Balkans see the situation in the Black Sea area?

You can pose questions to the speakers on the Facebook page (//www.facebook.com/CGSS21/) or by sending them to Vitalii Martyniuk, coordinator of the event (e-mail: info@geostrategy.org.ua, (095) 085-9241).

To watch the discussion in Zoom, where Ukrainian-English translation is provided, please, fill this form (//docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqOldghbgwMqyzZ8dSHjL0y3NnOYcU37EpfrgYv5vPLvo_Hw/viewform) by 12:00 on July 30, 2020.

The discussion will be available on the Ukrinform web-site //www.ukrinform.ua/ and its YouTube channel //www.youtube.com/user/UkrinformTV.