New conflict between Russia and Ukraine: "The sea of ​​Azov is a hypersensitive point"

Meanwhile, Ukrainian ships were towed to the port of Kerch in Crimea. The Russian blockade has also been lifted. The UN Security Council meets today to discuss the confrontation between countries.

What was the immediate cause of the shooting at sea?

"Three Ukrainian battleships and a tug wanted to enter the sea of ​​Azov, Russia did not want that … In Moscow, the authorities say that they have an aggressive pace since the l '. Ukraine avoided: the three Ukrainian vessels are provocative according to Russia and their arrival would not have been reported either, but Ukraine indicates that the arrival of ships has been reported and that both statements are difficult to verify ", says smiers.

"It is striking that Russia now poses the following problem: Ukrainian warships arrived at the same place earlier this year, while Moscow did not have a problem."

How important is the Sea of ​​Azov?

"The sea of ​​Azov is at a point of hypersensitivity." On the one hand, mainland Russia and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. On the other side is the Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels backed by Moscow are waging a war against Ukraine.

Smiers: "The sea of ​​Azov is thus surrounded by two-thirds by Russia, but Ukraine still has cities of Marioepol and Berdyansk on the sea of ​​Azov: it s & # 39; 39 is essential ports for Ukraine, for example for the export of goods. " 19659005] What are the agreements on the use of the sea?

"Most experts agree that Ukraine is in its right and that Ukrainian vessels are legally allowed to navigate there, because in 2003, Russia and Ukraine have The Sea of ​​Azov could use both.

"But there was no war yet," says Smiers. "Meanwhile, Russia is trying to strengthen its hold on the Sea of ​​Azov. Since May of this year, Russia has built a bridge between the Russian mainland and Crimea. This bridge is at the entrance to the sea of ​​Azov. Ships wishing to visit Ukrainian ports are also inspected by the Russians. This intimidation costs the captains a lot of delay. And they must often bribe Russian inspectors. "

The last two years, the situation seemed more" calm "between Russia and Ukraine.Why is this happening now?

The war in the east of l. Ukraine lasts almost five years and almost Every week there are still dead and wounded, but this seafront is new. "Russia has many more warships than Ukraine. Kiev is trying to do something with the supply of its own ships. "

Russian opposition leaders say the Kremlin is the aggressor." As Putin's popularity has declined considerably in recent months, Russia wants to increase the popularity of the president through this action. "In Kiev, it seems that Ukrainian President Poroshenko is seizing this incident to remain in the saddle. Poroshenko proposed to introduce the state of siege. If that happens, elections are impossible. And at the end of March 2019, presidential elections have just been scheduled, with Poroshenko at the polls. "

" It is also striking that Poroshenko no longer wants the state of siege, while his country has been at war for nearly five years. , with more than 10,000 dead and the loss of Crimea. During this period, Poroshenko has always been against the state of siege and he is now suddenly ahead, while at the bottom of the line there are more than "six wounded Ukrainians".

Can Ukraine have a connection with powerful Russia?

"Not really." The Ukrainian army, and certainly the fleet, is much weaker than the Russian army Ukraine enjoys the support of the West, but so far military support is extremely limited: Kiev receives political support.But even this moral support has been relegated to the background because the Ukrainian government has revealed itself very corrupt.If Kiev introduces the state of siege, it can even more to irritate the Western allies and, conversely, every proposal of Russia will be torpedoed by the Western countries ", Smiers declares.

The United Nations Security Council meets today in emergency council, is it special?

"These kinds of military incidents with a probability of escalation occur more often.The United Nations Security Council alone can not do the same, Western countries have more or less expressed their support for Ukraine, but Russia will use its right of veto in the Security Council. "