Ukraine urges West to turn Black Sea into 'NATO sea'
(Baonghean.vn) - On April 13, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that NATO needs to play a bigger role in security issues in the Black Sea, and integrate Ukraine's air defense and missile defense systems with those of its allies.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: AP |
Speaking remotely while attending the Black Sea security conference taking place in the capital Bucharest (Romania), Foreign Minister Kuleba emphasized: "The Black Sea plays an important role in helping the whole of Europe achieve its goals of peace and moving towards the future. Sadly, it is also a testament to how quickly things can turn bad if the threat is underestimated. It is time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, that is, a NATO sea."
"We need to solve Russia's common problem together. For example, I support the experts' idea of integrating Ukraine's air and missile defense systems with those of NATO allies in the Black and Baltic Seas," the head of Ukraine's foreign ministry added.
“I regret to say that the West does not have a consistent Black Sea strategy, while Russia has always had one: aggressive, revanchist and barbaric,” Kuleba said. He stressed that Ukraine wants “peaceful, law-abiding countries” to be able to “once again use the common sea for free trade, navigation and living without fear of Russian warships.”
According to Mr. Kuleba, the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius (Lithuania) is an opportunity to promote Ukraine's early membership in this military alliance, thereby proving that "the door is not only open but also has a clear plan on when and how Ukraine will be admitted"./.