Ukraine expects EU assistance due to situation in Azov Sea - Omelyan

Ukraine expects assistance from the European Commission due to the situation in the Azov Sea, in particular, regarding financial losses caused by the loss of cargo flows in Ukrainian ports, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has said.

He said this at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, January 31, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"I am convinced that in addition to the Azov package of sanctions, which is being prepared jointly with our Western partners, we will receive the same assistance from the European Commission. An EU mission is visiting Mariupol and Berdiansk this week, and it is studying what should be included in this assistance," Omelyan said.

According to him, Ukraine will not forgive Russia the financial losses sustained by Ukrainian ports due to Russian naval aggression.

"I would like to emphasize the importance of the Azov Sea. We will not forgive Russians the occupation of Crimea and Donbas, the deaths of Ukrainians, and the seizure of our seamen. We will not give a single kopeck for lost cargo flows in Mariupol and Berdiansk," Omelyan said.

In addition, he said he hoped for the European Union's assistance in the construction of highways between Mariupol, Berdiansk and Kherson.

"We believe that roads connecting Mariupol and Berdiansk with Kherson should be built with the help of the European Union. Thus we will logically connect all our seaports with the transport border to the European Union," Omelyan said.

As was reported earlier, a special EU mission will work in Ukraine until February 2 to assess the impact of Russian aggression in the Azov Sea on the economic and social situation in the Azov Sea region and the possible joint implementation of a number of infrastructure projects in the region.