Representatives of Ukraine, the European Commission, Romania, and Moldova held another QUAD meeting to discuss the situation in the maritime industry and the Danube region. The discussion focused on the impact of Russian aggression on port infrastructure, restrictions on access to transport routes, energy challenges, and joint coordination of further actions to maintain logistics stability, according to Andriy Kashuba, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
Meeting participants paid particular attention to the role of Danube ports as a backup export route and the need to enhance their resilience. Support for the operations of the national carrier, the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company, in the face of systemic attacks on infrastructure was also discussed. According to the Ukrainian side, more than 8.9 million tons of cargo were handled through the Port of Izmail, the Port of Reni, and the Port of Ust-Dunaisk in 2025, reducing the burden on land crossings and preserving the country’s export potential.
In the long term, the parties discussed expanding regional cooperation, including the Ukrainian section of the Danube in the TEN-T network, and attracting European funding for the restoration and modernization of port infrastructure. These steps should strengthen the resilience of the Danube transport hub and ensure the further development of alternative export routes for Ukraine.