The IV International Forum of the Crimean Platform – Expert Network began on August 28 in Kyiv with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of heavy shelling in the capital of Ukraine, which claimed the lives of 18 people, including children (as for August 28, 5 pm).

Against this tragic background, participants discussed prospects for peace and the liberation of Crimea from Russian occupation.

The first discussion panel was opened by diplomat and executive director of the Center for Defense Strategies, Oleksandr Khara, who stated: “Crimea is the center of gravity of this war: everything began with Crimea and must end with Crimea. Moreover, this is Russia's weakest point in this war.”

Mykola Bielieskov, a Senior Analyst at the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center, also was a Forum speaker. He emphasized that despite Ukraine’s significant military achievements, security in the Black Sea remains severely constrained by the political framework imposed on Ukraine by its partners.

During 2022–2023, Ukraine succeeded in:

• preventing Russia from landing troops;
• opening a grain corridor;
• limiting the Russian Federation’s presence in the Black Sea.

“The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue this campaign and are using Russia’s need to defend Crimea to destroy key equipment that the enemy brings to the peninsula,” Bielieskov noted.

However, he warned that the potential for decisive, targeted operations is undermined by political restrictions that limit Ukraine’s ability to expand its defense measures.

“Some of our partners still do not perceive this as a war that will determine the future world order,” Bielieskov emphasized.

He concluded: “A war of attrition requires unity within the country, unity with our partners, and effective mobilization of resources. The scale of these efforts affects our ability to replicate targeted initiatives, expand production, involve people, and influence the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war in general – and the liberation of Crimea in particular.”