The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba said in an interview with CNN that Russia could “annex” the Sea of Azov.
“The Sea of Azov is now an easy target for Russia. After the illegal annexation of Crimea and the establishment of control over the Kerch Strait, Russia may make a creeping annexation of the Sea of Azov. And it is constantly strengthening its military presence there and blocking trade routes”, – Kuleba said.
The Crimean peninsula joined Russia in a referendum held there in the spring of 2014 following a coup d’etat in Ukraine. Almost 97% of Crimean voters voted for reunification with Russia, but Ukraine continues to consider the peninsula “its own, but temporarily occupied territory”.