Russia Today
The US will provide $10 million extra in military aid to help Ukraine beef up its naval capabilities, the State Department has announced, days after a Senate resolution called for such aid in response to the Kerch Strait incident.
Russia was ordered to “immediately return to Ukraine the seized vessels and detained Ukrainian crews” involved in last month’s naval provocation and to allow Ukrainian ships to freely navigate the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov in Friday’s statement from deputy State Department spokesperson Robert Palladino. The financial decision was made “in solidarity with” Lithuania and the UK, which also plan to step up their funding of the Ukrainian military, he added. The State Department’s announcement follows hints from Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council head Alexander Turchinov that the country might send more ships through the Kerch Strait soon, despite the tension. If Ukraine doesn’t flex its muscles in the Azov, Turchinov told the BBC, Russia might “legitimize the occupation of Crimea.”
Not wishing to lose three more ships, Turchinov invited NATO along for the ride this time, explaining “It would be very logical if NATO ships which we invited [to visit] the Azov Sea ports make sure that Russia complies with international law.”
US senators introduced a resolution on Wednesday in support of the idea, calling for President Trump to retaliate against so-called “Russian aggression” by leading a “robust multinational freedom of navigation operation” in the Black Sea to counter “excessive Russian Federation claims of sovereignty.” The resolution requested additional military assistance to Ukraine, a wish the State Department has granted in record time (subject to Congressional approval).
The resolution also calls for the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the imposition of yet more sanctions on Russia, even requesting European countries deny Russian Navy ships access to their ports for refueling and resupply purposes.
Our time is a news portal