Launched in 2024 by a group of Ukrainian parliamentarians, the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa has quickly become the premier geopolitical event in southern Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The inaugural edition gathered over 350 participants — the first such gathering in Odesa since the onset of the war. Building on this momentum, the 2025 Forum welcomed more than 600 high-level guests, including representatives of national governments, international organizations, and leading experts.
With a focus on addressing the shifting security dynamics of the Black Sea region, the Forum has become a key platform for fostering dialogue, exchanging strategic insights, and strengthening international cooperation. As regional and global challenges continue to evolve, the Forum is set to remain at the forefront of shaping security policy and collaboration in the Black Sea area.
The Black Sea Security Forum is an annual international platform dedicated to addressing security challenges in the Black Sea region and beyond — a hotspot of global geopolitical tension. Led by Ukrainian MP Oleksii Goncharenko, the Forum combines strategic vision with strong leadership to foster high-level dialogue and regional cooperation.
Forum’s Advisory Board brings together representatives from across the Ukrainian Parliament, ensuring inclusive, cross-party engagement in shaping the Forum’s agenda and impact.
Odesa is Ukraine’s maritime gateway and a focal point of global geopolitics. As the largest city in southern Ukraine and one of the biggest ports on the Black Sea, it has long been a hub of trade, finance, and culture in Eastern Europe.
In the light of the negotiations, the key question is what the future security architecture of the Black Sea will look like. Is this already the endgame—or only the beginning of the next decisive stage?