Poroshenko Says Submits Initiatives On Russia Sanctions Over Kerch Incident To EU, NATO

Umer Jamshaid Published December 13, 2018 | 07:24 PM

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that he had submitted initiatives on new sanctions against Russia over the Kerch Strait incident to President of the European Council Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th December, 2018) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that he had submitted initiatives on new sanctions against Russia over the Kerch Strait incident to President of the European Council Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"We have talked about the sanctions. Yesterday we presented [to] president Tusk data, projects and today I also presented those documents to the secretary general of NATO. I have given the list of people, members of the Federal Security Service of Russia, FSB, who were involved in the action and acts against the Ukrainian naval officers," Poroshenko said following talks with Stoltenberg.

The Ukrainian president pointed out that the sanctions should also target Russian judges and prosecutors who will take part in the legal process against detained Ukrainian sailors.

Poroshenko added that he had also discussed with EU officials the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which, from his point of view, poses a threat to the European energy security.

On November 25, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy � Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany Kapu � breached the Russian border, entered Russian territorial waters that were temporarily closed, and began moving toward the Kerch Strait, which serves as the entrance into the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian vessels and their crew were detained by Russia after failing to respond to a lawful demand to stop.

In response to the incident, Poroshenko signed a decree declaring martial law in several Ukrainian regions located near the Russian border, and the coasts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The Western countries expressed concern over the Russian actions in the Sea of Azov pointing out that the new sanctions were not ruled out.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the incident was a provocation prepared in advance as a pretext to introduce martial law. Putin said the provocation could be linked to Poroshenko's low approval ratings ahead of the presidential campaign set to start in late December.