Geography of Ukraine
Ukraine is a large country located in Eastern Europe that borders Russia, and covers an area of 603,628 km². Ukraine’s coastline consists of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, while the majority of its landmass is located away from the coasts. With diverse regions and climates, the country has a mix of woodlands, steppes, tundra and plains, as well as mountain ranges located in the west, east and south. However, it does not have access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Boundaries of Ukraine
Ukraine’s eastern, southern and western land borders are with Crimea and the Black Sea, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Belarus. Its coastline with the Sea of Azov is shared with the Russian Federation. In 2014, the Russian Federation annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea, after holding a referendum that violated Ukrainian sovereignty and international law. At the time, this further severed Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Geopolitical Conflict
Continued geopolitics and tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation have complicated Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean Sea. Following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, the Russian Federation has blocked access to the Sea of Azov, a shared waterway between the two countries and an important source of fish and transportation for Crimea. In relation to the Mediterranean Sea, this has further disconnected Ukraine and limited its potential maritime activities.
Expert Perspectives
Experts note that, although connected to the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, Ukraine remains located further away from the Mediterranean Sea than other European countries. Dr. Stephen Jordan, Senior Research Fellow at NATO Research Center, argues that strategic access by Ukraine to the Mediterranean Sea is increasingly important as a maritime power, helping to ensure safe passage to world markets and a presence in the region. However, given the current geopolitical dynamics, Jordan also warned that Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean may become a source of tension.
Economic Factors
The economic factors further complicate access to the Mediterranean Sea for Ukraine. U.S. Affairs magazine asserts that the development of critical transportation networks within Ukraine, from ports to the railroads, would be critical to its access. Such developments, however, require substantial investments by both public and private entities. With a struggling economy, some analysts highlight that Ukraine may not have the resources to develop a more permanent access route to the Mediterranean Sea.
Analyzing the Risks for Ukraine
Analysts further contend with the strategic implications of how Ukraine’s lack of access to the Mediterranean poses risks to its long-term maritime interests and presence in the region. Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, Director of the Center for International and European Studies at the University of Piraeus, Greece, suggests that the Russian Federation is likely to use the issue of access to the Mediterranean as a political tool to counter Ukraine’s ambitions in the region. He warns that without proper investments, both economic and political, Ukraine may find itself at the mercy of Russia in the near future.
U.S.-Russia Dynamics
Given the geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, analysts suggest that U.S. involvement may be a potential avenue to secure Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean. According to the National Interest, due to its superior naval power and diplomatic presence, the U.S. may use bridge-building actions to break down diplomatic tensions and open the region to Ukrainian access. While the potential risks remain, some suggest that the U.S. should get involved and look at how to provide Ukraine with more substantial access to the Sea.
Will Ukraine Ever gain Access to the Mediterranean?
Ukraine is a large and growing country located far from the Mediterranean Sea. Generally, access to the Mediterranean has a number of strategic and economic implications for any nation, however, for Ukraine this is further compounded by the current geopolitical situation between itself and the Russian Federation. As such, analysts warn that investments in both economic and political factors are critical for Ukraine to have access to the Mediterranean. While the Russian Federation may counter any attempts for the country to gain maritime access, the potential for the U.S. to become involved in diplomatic bridge building remains.
Ukraine’s Impact if it Does gain Access to the Mediterranean
If Ukraine was to gain access to the Mediterranean Sea, experts suggest that it would be in a better strategic and economic position. According to NATO, Ukraine’s opening of the Black and Azov seas provides the potential for increased trade and diplomatic relations, helping the country and region as a whole become more prosperous. Likewise, this could help the country’s international perception, as well as open it to the rest of the world.
Regional Cooperation
Analysts also contend that regional cooperation between nations in the region is necessary to facilitate Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean. For example, analyst Richard Jones suggests that, given the development of greater infrastructure, increased cooperation from surrounding countries, particularly Bulgaria and Romania, could allow Ukraine to potentially gain more access to the Mediterranean. At a more direct scale, the European Union’s expansion of cooperation with Turkey and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development could also open the door for increased access between the region and Ukraine.
What the Future Holds for Ukraine and the Mediterranean
At a time of escalating tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and a weakened economy, many analysts advise caution for the future of Ukraine’s access to the Mediterranean. Given the current dynamics, the uncertainty of any potential investments to add access to the Sea remains. However, under the right circumstances, such as regional cooperation or bridge building on behalf of the U.S., Ukraine may be able to gain greater access to the Mediterranean and its international waters.
