He noted that in 2025 more than 8.9 million tonnes of cargo were handled through the Danube ports of Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk, which helped reduce pressure on land border crossings and supported Ukraine’s export capacity. At the same time, intensified attacks on Danube ports and nearby cities led to disruptions in the energy system and significant constraints on the operation of the port cluster.

The Ukrainian side outlined priority needs for restoring port power generation capacities, including the need for transformers and generators, and appealed to the EU to consider providing support.

In the long term, the parties discussed the need to strengthen regional cooperation, include the Ukrainian section of the Danube in the TEN-T network, and take further steps to attract European financing for the recovery and development of port infrastructure in the Danube region.

The meeting continued a series of working-level contacts between the Ukrainian side and the European Commission held throughout January. In particular, on 26–27 January in Brussels, Andrii Kashuba together with First Deputy Minister Alona Shkrum held separate meetings with Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Mona Björklund, a representative of the European Commission, and Alan Baron, Danube Region Coordinator. The discussions covered, inter alia, the implementation of European legislation in the fields of inland waterways and maritime transport, the importance of recognition of professional qualifications of Ukrainian inland navigation vessel crews in line with EU standards, the introduction of technical requirements for vessels, and support for reforms in the port sector. Ukraine reaffirmed its readiness to complete the necessary audits and practical steps for full integration into the European regulatory framework and expressed interest in deepening cooperation with the EU on financial and technical support for the development of the Danube and maritime clusters.