Vice PM Kuleba: Ukraine reviving its naval potential

“Five years have passed since the Ukrainian Navy was forced to leave Crimea as a result of the illegal occupation by Russia. As Russia's armed aggression continues and intensifies, we are reviving and developing our naval potential. Yesterday, I visited the Slovyansk and the Starobilsk Island-class patrol boats which will soon enter combat duty. However, my main impression is not the boats but decisive readiness of Ukrainian sailors to defend Ukraine,” Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Odesa.

NATO and NATO member states help Ukraine to strengthen its Navy, he stressed.

“We appreciate the consistent political support of the Alliance and are grateful to its member states for practical assistance. Security challenges in the Black Sea are not exclusively a problem of Ukraine or the Black Sea. It is a threat to the entire region. When Alliance’s ships enter the Black Sea, this demonstrates the strength of the international community which is able to guarantee the security of the entire region. It is extremely important to see the NATO mine countermeasures group, the minesweepers of Bulgaria, Italy, Romania and Spain in the port of Odesa along with the Ukrainian Navy ships,” Kuleba noted.

As reported, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg makes an official visit to Odesa today. He visited the seaport, where four NATO minesweepers arrived on October 29.

ol