A roundtable on shaping security policy on NATO's eastern flank was held in Chernivtsi

On June 25, 2024, a Ukrainian-Romanian round table titled "Forming Security Policy on NATO's Eastern Flank: Romania's Role in the Ukrainian Case" occurred in Chernivtsi. Serhiy Hakman, Vice President of the Charity Fund "Public Resources and Initiatives," moderated the event, which brought together government officials and scholars from Ukraine and Romania.

Key Highlights:

Mykhailo Pavlyuk, Deputy Head of the Regional Council, opened the event by welcoming the participants. He emphasized Ukraine's longstanding readiness to become a full-fledged NATO member and expressed the country's expectation for the NATO-Ukraine Council to establish specific conditions and timelines for accession. He thanked Romanian partners for supporting Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression and expressed hope for Romania's continued advocacy during negotiations on Ukraine's NATO and EU membership.

Discussion Topics

The round table focused on two key areas:

1. Russian Aggression Against Ukraine as a Challenge to the International Security System.
2. Ukraine's Path to NATO and EU Membership: Lessons from Romania's Experience.

Key Attendees and Speakers

The event was attended by notable figures, including:

• Ruslan Biloskurskyi, Rector of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
• Ruslan Domnitsak, Deputy Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration on Defense Matters.
• Serhiy Bostan, Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Development and Strategic Planning of the Chernivtsi City Council.
• Dan Nicolae Constantin, Counselor-Minister at the Consulate General of Romania in Chernivtsi.
• Ilya Hoch, Honorary Consul of Latvia in Chernivtsi.

Participants explored the challenges posed by Russian aggression to the international security system and discussed how Ukraine could leverage Romania's experience in joining NATO.

Panelists Included:

• Yevhen Magda is the director of the NGO Institute of World Policy and an associate Professor at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
• Constantin Hlihor, President of the Romanian Scientific Society for Interdisciplinary Research.
• Anatoliy Kruglashov is the director of the Research Institute of European Integration and Regional Studies at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
• Sorin Bocancea, Vice-Rector of Petre Andrei University.
• Serhiy Fedunyak, Professor of International Relations, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
• George Visan, Advisor on Liaison Issues, Romanian Diplomatic Institute.
• Larisa Dumitrescu, Officer at the Suceava Regional Bureau for Cross-Border Cooperation.

Organizers

The event was organized by the Chernivtsi Regional Council, the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, the Consulate General of Romania in Chernivtsi, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, the NGO Center for Political Narratives of Democracy, the Charity Fund Public Resources and Initiatives, and the Union of Ukrainians in Romania.

The round table provided a platform for dialogue and the exchange of expertise. It contributed to a better understanding of how Ukraine can align its security strategies with NATO's framework while benefiting from Romania's successful integration experience.