British Ambassador: Ukraine facing threats to territorial integrity

“We will work for the development of the Ukrainian Navy, and it should be clearly noted that the Black Sea and other seas should be of free use by various nations, and we know the consequences of violations of such norms. It is a crucial moment now. We need to understand what threats Ukraine faces now: the threats to the territorial integrity. And we must work together to reach the adherence to the international law. And, finally, I want to say: Crimea is Ukraine, Crimean waters are Ukraine,” Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Judith Gough said during the 2nd International Maritime Security Conference in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to her, the United Kingdom condemns the Russian aggression in the Kerch Strait.

The ambassador said that Russia had violated with its actions Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, its obligations under the UN Convention, and the 2003 agreement between Ukraine and Russia on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Ms Judith Gough also expressed the hope that the Russian Federation would quickly release the captured Ukrainian sailors.

“We are concerned about the health and welfare of the Ukrainian sailors and we hope they will be released as soon as possible. We hope that Russia will do this,” Gough said.

As reported, on November 25, Russian border ships committed the acts of aggression against three Ukrainian ships heading from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol. The Russian special forces fired and seized three Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait and 24 sailors aboard.

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