Russia could turn the Black Sea into its own inland lake, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba
Ukraine may submit proposals to counteract Russia in the Black Sea, these initiatives are being discussed with Georgia, Moldova and Black Sea NATO member states. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this on Tuesday, commenting on the outcome of President Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Georgia.
The minister said the issue of how to “equalise the security situation in the Black Sea” had been discussed very substantively during the visit of the head of state. He also pointed out that Kiev had relevant proposals. “And we are now discussing them both with the Georgians, the Moldovans and with the Black Sea states – NATO member states that are friendly to us – Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey,” Kuleba said in a video message published on Facebook.
“We are coming out on an important topic – the security of the Black Sea. If the Black Sea countries and NATO members, plus Ukraine, Georgia – one can find a place for Moldova in this mechanism as well – do not unite their efforts, Russia will turn the Black Sea into its inland lake, divide it in half and start to completely rule in its zone”, – the diplomatic head claims.
The international conference “Georgia’s European Path” opened in Batumi on Monday. The summit was attended by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Zelenski. Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili met with the leaders of Moldova and Ukraine as part of the “Associated Trio”. As a result of the talks, they signed the Batumi Declaration on the aspirations of the three countries to join the European Union.
Opening the forum, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said the Black Sea region could become a zone of peace and stability and become a “region of opportunity.”