Stoltenberg: NATO coordinates efforts to support Ukraine in Black Sea

The measures will include training of maritime forces, port visits and sharing information, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Thursday.

“We discussed what more we can do to enhance our security in the Black Sea region. We agreed a package of measures to improve our situational awareness. And to step up our support for both Georgia and Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.

He noted that the measures concern the training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises and sharing information.

As the NATO Secretary General stressed, this will build on already close cooperation.

At the same time he informed that “right now, one of NATO’s naval groups is on patrol in the Black Sea.  And today, it is exercising with Ukrainian and Georgian ships.”

“So we will maintain our focus, and our presence in this vital region,” Stoltenberg underscored.

Moreover, he called on Moscow to release Ukrainian sailors.

“We call on Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized last year near the Sea of Azov,” the NATO Secretary General underscored.

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