NATO concerned about the escalation in the Azov Sea
NATO is concerned that Russia is preventing Ukrainian vessels from accessing the Azov Sea, stated the Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg before a meeting with the secretaries of Defense, reports Interfax Ukraine.
NATO is also concerned with the presence of Russia in the Crimea and their activities near the Crimean bridge.
“The situation in Ukraine, around Ukraine, in the Azov Sea, and in the Crimea is what we always discuss (with the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko), and in these issues, the NATO alliance expresses their political and practical help to Ukraine,” he stated.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service and the State Border Service were forced to increase their presence in the Azov Sea because of the detention of ships by Russia.
At its meeting on September 6th, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine approved a set of measures aimed at the protection of national interests in the southern regions and the waters of the Azov and Black seas. In accordance with these plans, Ukraine strengthened their armed forces in the area of the Azov Sea.