In an era of escalating geopolitical instability, protecting global maritime trade routes has become a critical priority for the international community. Addressing these challenges, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in an online meeting dedicated to the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Official Website of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy emphasized that the global community must unite to eliminate emerging threats in the region, warning that today’s decisions will directly influence the future behavior of aggressive states worldwide.
“We must all work together to remove threats in the Strait of Hormuz in a way that helps protect freedom of navigation worldwide,” the President stated. He warned that any hesitation or ambiguity could embolden other malign actors to create similar crises in different straits and on other fronts. To prevent a prolonged security vacuum, Zelenskyy drew parallels with the current situation in Gaza, urging the international coalition to be as specific and decisive as possible to avoid unresolved humanitarian and security challenges.
The proposed strategy requires a clear distribution of responsibilities. Zelenskyy highlighted the need to define which tasks in the Strait of Hormuz rely on the collective international community and which depend specifically on the United States. He also stressed the importance of involving Middle Eastern countries to ensure their shared interests are represented. “The key principle is that after the war, security must be strengthened, not weakened,” he added.
Ukraine’s contribution to this global effort is not merely theoretical. Having successfully broken the Russian naval blockade in the Black Sea without a traditional large fleet, Ukraine possesses unique, battle-tested expertise. The President suggested organizing a meeting of military teams to discuss how a security mission in Hormuz could operate. He proudly noted that Ukraine has valuable experience in escorting commercial vessels, demining, providing protection against aerial attacks, and coordinating complex maritime operations. “Ukrainians are already working in the Gulf region on air security. We can also contribute to maritime security,” Zelenskyy affirmed.
Beyond the Middle East, the crisis has profound implications for European security. The ongoing war in Iran and regional instability threaten to divert global attention and resources away from Russia’s war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed concern that as the US might ease its pressure on Moscow due to overlapping global crises, Europe could face a severe shortage of weaponry, particularly air defense systems. In response, Russia shows no intention of reducing the intensity or brutality of its strikes.
Therefore, the Ukrainian leader called on Europe to take much stronger steps to protect lives, counter ballistic threats, and maintain relentless pressure on Russia. Expressing gratitude to nations providing air defense systems and accelerating defense production, Zelenskyy concluded with a powerful message of self-reliance: “The main regions of the world must rely more on their own strength: Europe, the Middle East, and the Gulf countries, as well as the main regions of Asia, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.”