Ukrainian ships will continue to pass through the Kerch Strait to “protect freedom of navigation”
According to President Poroshenko, Ukrainian ships may once again pass through the Kerch Strait with OSCE experts and some journalists.
TASS news agency (Russia) has just quoted Ukrainian President Poroshenko speaking on ICTV with the above information.
"I will not say when the ship will pass through the Kerch Strait because only volunteers will go there. I do not exclude that journalists, experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Irina Geraschenko, will participate," Poroshenko said, noting that these initiatives will be considered.
|
Ukrainian President Poroshenko. Photo: AP |
The Ukrainian president also assured that his country's ships would definitely pass through the strait to "protect freedom of navigation".
The Ukrainian president’s statement is believed to be able to spark a new round of tension between Russia and Ukraine because the Kerch Strait was where the clash between Russian coast guard forces and Ukrainian ships took place on November 25. At that time, Russia captured 3 Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors on charges of violating territorial waters after this incident.
Ukraine then declared martial law for 30 days in areas bordering Russia.
