Ukrainian naval official proposes inviting NATO to joint exercises in the Sea of Azov
Kiev needs to take more radical actions to "ensure the security" of the Azov Sea, not relying on the European Union, Captain 1st Rank of the Ukrainian Navy, First Deputy Chairman of the Union of Officers Yevgeny Lupakov said.
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| Crimean Sea. Photo: Sputnik |
To do this, he proposed a four-step “plan,” the first of which, he said, would be to terminate the agreement with Russia on the joint use of the Sea of Azov.
In addition, Lupakov expressed confidence that Kiev needs to define and establish the maritime border of Ukraine, and then announce exercises of Ukrainian missile and artillery units in the region.
"As soon as these laws are adopted, everything will be over, the seas will no longer be common, each side will have its own part of the sea. And then invite NATO warships to conduct joint exercises in the Sea of Azov. And that's it. There will be no problems," Lupakov emphasized in an interview with "Obozrevatel" (Observer).
The shipping situation in the Sea of Azov became tense earlier this year. In March, Ukraine seized the Nord fishing vessel with ten Russians on board. The captain faces five years in prison for “illegally entering Crimea with the aim of harming state interests.” Kiev now wants to sell the vessel at auction.
Moscow views Kiev's actions as "maritime terrorism" and responded by stepping up border checks in its part of the Sea of Azov. In the Crimean border control department, the FSB noted that checks were carried out in accordance with international maritime law, while the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry admitted that border guards did not violate protocol during the checks.
