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At the request of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) at an Ambassadorial level in Brussels on Monday afternoon to discuss developments in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait.
During a phone call with Poroshenko, Stoltenberg discussed the current situation with the Ukrainian president and expressed NATO’s full support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law.
The crisis began on Sunday after Russia stopped the three Ukrainian ships from entering the Sea of Azov by placing a cargo ship beneath the bridge. Ukraine said a Russian ship had earlier rammed its tug boat in a failed to attempt to stop it.
Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea to shipping in the early hours of Monday.
The developments have triggered a dangerous new crisis between the two countries.
Three Ukrainian naval vessels seized by Russia off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday are being held at the Black Sea peninsula's port of Kerch, witnessed said on Monday.
Three Ukrainian ships seized by Russia are moored at Crimean port of Kerch
European Council President Donald Tusk on Monday condemned Russia's seizure of Ukrainian navy vessels in the Kerch Strait."I condemn Russian use of force in the Azov Sea. Russian authorities must return Ukrainian sailors, vessels and refrain from further provocations," Tusk said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko."Europe will stay united in support of Ukraine."Video: Three Ukrainian ships seized by Russia are moored at Crimean port of Kerch
EU's Tusk says Europe will stay united in support of Ukraine
Ukrainian commercial ports in Azov Sea are operating normally despite tensions between Ukraine and Russia, analyst APK-Inform said on Monday.Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships in Azov Sea off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has asked parliament for approval to introduce martial law.Ukraine operates two sea ports in Azov Sea which specialise in shipping grain and steel.Germany: Russian blockade of Sea of Azov is unacceptablePoland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns 'Russian aggression' in Azov SeaRussia reopens Kerch Strait to shipping after standoff with UkraineTurkey says Kerch Strait must remain open after Russia-Ukraine standoff
Ukraine's Azov Sea ports operating normally despite tensions with Russia
Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea to shipping in the early hours of Monday morning after firing on and seizing three Ukrainian naval ships a day earlier, a move that triggered a dangerous new crisis between the two countries.Russia's FSB security service said early on Monday its border patrol boats had seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, the most serious clash between Moscow and Kiev in years.It had previously blocked the Kerch Strait near Russia-annexed Crimea to stop the ships from passing from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov, saying the small flotilla had not notified it of its plans in advance and ignored warnings to stop while manoeuvring dangerously.With relations still raw after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the incident risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict and is likely to renew Western calls for more sanctions on Moscow.Russia reopens Kerch Strait to shipping after standoff with UkraineTurkey says Kerch Strait must remain open after Russia-Ukraine standoffThe Russian rouble opened 0.4 percent weaker against the dollar in Moscow, its lowest since mid-November.Kiev, which denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression and asked for the international community to mobilise to punish Russia.The U.N. Security Council will meet on the latest developments at the request of Russia and Ukraine later on Monday, diplomats said.The European Union said in a statement it expected Russia to restore freedom of passage via the Kerch Strait and urged both sides to act with the utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation. A NATO spokeswoman issued a similar appeal to both sides.Ukrainian ships seized by Russia being held at Crimean port of KerchSecurity Council to convene over Russia, UkraineMartial Law In Ukraine?A Reuters witness said the three Ukrainian naval vessels seized by Russia were being held at the Crimean port of Kerch. People in naval-style uniforms could be seen around the vessels, which bore no sign of damage, the witness said.The FSB has said Russia has opened a criminal case in connection with what it said was the ships' illegal entry into Russia's territorial waters.The FSB said three Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident and were getting medical care. Their lives were not in danger, it said.The Ukrainian parliament is due to consider a proposal to impose martial law for 60 days later on Monday after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met his top military and security chiefs on Sunday night.The move may be unpopular in some quarters in Ukraine since it would restrict civil liberties and give state institutions greater power ahead of a presidential election next year which polls indicate Poroshenko would lose.Russia plans stiffer fines for tech firms that break rulesRussia fires on and seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea
Russia reopens Kerch Strait to shipping after standoff with Ukraine
Turkey said on Monday it was "concerned" by reports that Ukrainian ships had been fired on off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea and said that shipping in the area should not be obstructed."As a country sharing a Black Sea coast, we underline that passage through Kerch Strait should not be blocked," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement."We call for the respect of international law in order not to escalate tensions," it added, calling for avoiding steps that could endanger stability and peace in the region.Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships in the Black Sea on Sunday after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, a move that risks igniting a dangerous new crisis between the two countries.The incident took place near the Kerch Strait linking the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.The three Ukrainian naval vessels are being held at the Black Sea peninsula's port of Kerch.Video: Russia seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed CrimeaUkrainian ships seized by Russia being held at Crimean port of KerchSecurity Council to convene over Russia, UkraineRussia fires on and seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea
Turkey says Kerch Strait must remain open after Russia-Ukraine standoff