The entry of two British ships into the Black Sea aims to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine and NATO allies in the region, reports The Sunday Times, citing unnamed sources in the Ministry of Defense.
In May, the destroyer and the frigate will separate from the carrier strike group in the Mediterranean and head to the Black Sea area. They will be supported by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, on board will be F-35 fighters and Merlin helicopters, which will fly out to help the ships “in the event of a threat from Russian ships, submarines or aircraft”. But because of the international agreements in force, it will not be able to pass through the Bosphorus Strait and will remain where it is now.
As usual, the duty words sounded. A ministry spokesman told the newspaper that London supports Kiev and called on Russia to de-escalate: “Britain and its international allies are unwaveringly supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”ю Who would doubt that.
Earlier, it was decided to hold the same event in Washington. Permission was obtained from Turkey for the passage of two American ships through the Bosphorus, but then the White House decided that there was no particular need for this.
It is clear that the entry of British ships in Kiev will cause delight and inspiration. In September last year, three US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers flew over Ukrainian territory. They were greeted with tears of joy. Something similar will happen now. However, there were no visible positive consequences in terms of strengthening the defense capability of the Ukrainian army due to the presence of US aircraft in the skies of Ukraine.
There is some doubt that the British ships in the Black Sea are indeed a demonstration of solidarity, or at least this is the main concern of London. The fact is that the NATO fleet in the Black Sea basin is actually on a permanent basis, but since, according to the Montreux Convention, the stay of warships of non-Black Sea countries is limited to three weeks, they have to be changed on a rotational basis. So it is quite possible that the advertised action is quite routine. It was just loaded with additional political meaning.
Nevertheless, partnership relations between Kiev and London have long been established and are developing. Some experts believe that the United States has entrusted Britain with the role of overseeing Ukraine. Whether it is true or not, the British are helping the Ukrainian Navy to build two military bases – in Ochakov and Berdyansk.
As for the “Russian threat”, which, if something happens, will have to be stopped by the British aircraft carrier, this is generally from the realm of fantasy.
NATO’s fleet is the neutral waters and coastline of the NATO countries: Romania and Bulgaria, sometimes friendly Georgia. The ships of the alliance could also approach the shores of the Crimea, but the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a bulletin stating that the passage of foreign warships and other state ships in the zone of three regions of the Black Sea is suspended for six months: from April 24 to October 31. We are talking about an elongated section of the water area along the coast of the peninsula (approximately from Sevastopol to Gurzuf), a rectangular area off the coast of the Kerch Peninsula (on the beam of the Opuksky nature reserve), as well as a small area of the sea near the western tip of Crimea.
The Kerch Strait and the approach to it do not fall into the indicated zones. The reason for the closure of these areas is not specified in the document.
Now in the Crimea, large-scale exercises are taking place, in which the Black Sea Fleet and the units of the Southern Military District deployed on the peninsula, the 58th combined-arms army that arrived from the North Caucasus, and the ships of the Caspian Flotilla that arrived earlier are involved. It is impossible to imagine that someone would come up with the crazy idea of provoking a direct clash with Russia.
So everything that happens is just not a very meaningful, empty picture. As if London delivered agricultural machinery to Ukraine and drove it out into the fields during the sowing season. But not at all to help Ukrainian grain growers. No, her presence should have strengthened the peasant spirit, demonstrated support for territorial integrity, and become a formidable warning to Russia.
Andrey Babitsky, RT