Putin in conversation with Merkel “gave an assessment of the provocative actions of the Ukrainian side”, said the Kremlin

Photo: EPA

At the initiative of the German side had a telephone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, the press service of the Kremlin on November 27.

“They discussed the threat the incident that occurred on 25 November in Azovo-the black sea water area. Vladimir Putin gave an assessment of the provocative actions of the Ukrainian side, the gross violation of international law by its military ships, deliberately ignoring the rule of innocent passage in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. Expressed serious concern in respect of decisions of Kiev on the reduction of its armed forces in full combat readiness and the Declaration of martial law,” – said in the message.

Putin stressed that “the Ukrainian leadership bears full responsibility for the creation of another conflict situation and the related risks”.

The Kremlin believes that “all this is clearly made from the election campaigns” in Ukraine.

“Vladimir Putin expressed hope that Berlin will have an impact on the Ukrainian authorities to keep them from further rash steps. Noted that representatives of the Russian Border guard service will be ready to give additional explanations about how to develop these events in the Kerch Strait,” – continued in the Kremlin.

On the website of the Federal Chancellor of Germany, yet reports of the conversation, Merkel and Putin.

November 25, Russia seized the Black sea boats of the Ukrainian Navy “Berdyansk” and “Nikopol” and the tug “Kapu Yana” who were going to pass through the Kerch Strait in the Azov sea. The ships opened fire. According to the naval forces of Ukraine, three Ukrainian soldiers were injured.

According to the chief of staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko, only the captured ships was 23 military. Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova said that Russian border guards detained a 24 Ukrainian seamen.

Media published the names of 22 of the Russian Federation seized Ukrainian sailors.

In connection with the aggravation of the situation on 26 November, the Verkhovna Rada supported the decree of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the introduction of martial law in 10 regions of Ukraine. The document envisages to introduce a special regime for 30 days from 9.00 am 28 November 2018 to 9.00 27 December 2018 in Vinnytsia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

The United States called on Poroshenko and Putin to hold direct talks.