NATO plans to take measures to ensure the passage of Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait, as well as to expand the scope of aerial reconnaissance in the Black Sea, stated the US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison.
According to her, the NATO foreign ministers will approve this package of measures at a meeting that will begin today in Washington.
“This is a package that strengthens reconnaissance, aerial reconnaissance, and also involves sending more ships of NATO countries to the Black Sea to ensure the safe passage of Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov,” Hutchison said.
She also added that “more attention is required to ensure that these waters are released,” and the countries of the region are “free from Russian intervention.”
“Russia places defensive weapons in the Crimea, and the Crimea is part of Ukraine,” the American representative said.
She also says that the alliance is going to take a new package of measures in connection with the November incident in the Kerch Strait and added that NATO members should be able to confront Russia in the Black Sea.
“It is unacceptable that Ukrainian sailors are being held in a prison in Moscow. We need to make sure that we have the opportunity to restrain Russia’s aggression,” Hutchison said.