Volker on captive sailors, the Kerch Strait and the new sanctions against Russia for Azov

The US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volcker, gave an online lecture for half an hour during which he spoke more from a hundred journalists from around the world. During this period, Volker, who is in Brussels, made several resounding statements about the prospects for the release of Ukrainian seamen captured on 25 November near the Kerch Strait and sanctioned by additional sanctions, confirmed the capacity building Russia's military along the Ukrainian borders. were very optimistic, which could indicate a difficult situation in Azov, in the Kerch Strait, around Crimea and in Donbass, and that the early resolution of all these problems would not be due to the Kremlin's reluctance to adopt a positive way Shen.

Kurt Volcker's online press briefing can be divided into several blocks.

Thus, in direct language and thesis, Volcker:

KERCHENSKY CRISIS

• "The attack of the Ukrainian navy was very serious … This is the first, unilateral Russian claim of the Straits of Kerch, who controlled the access to the sea of ​​Azov.Here previously we were aware of Russia's claims on annexed Crimea, with which no one agreed, and then they began to claim territorial waters around the Crimea as Russians, and now they unilaterally claim the entire Kerch Strait under their control, a violation of the bilateral agreement with Ukraine since 2003. "
• Ukrainian ships were fired in international waters, where they were captured by Ukrainian sailors. "There are legal problems with which we do not agree with Russia regarding the Kerch Strait – freedom of navigation to and from the Azov Sea and access to Ukrainian ports ( Azov). "

ABOUT SEAWAYS

• "They (the Russians) currently appointed charges against Ukrainian seamen, according to Russian legislation, contrary to all international standards.Because it is the military seamen who were in the US. official exercise of their functions and that they should not fall under the action (Russian laws), but under the laws of war.From a technical point of view, they are prisoners of war "
• Special Representative of the State Department, according to his confession, there is no good news about the release of sailors. Russia, as Volker noted, at the request of the United States, Germany and the EU to release sailors, said "No"
• "J & # 39; would have hoped that Russia could do it with good will before Christmas, but nowhere can we predict what part of Russia can do it. "

ABOUT THE RUSSIAN MILITARY ATTRACTION WARNING BY THE BLACK OF UKRAINE

• "Yes, that is absolutely true, but it is something that has not happened in the last two weeks – that's what has happened over the years.Russia invades Ukraine, took Crimea, occupied part of the Donbass and, on the very territory of Russia, built up a significant military potential and created considerable military power in Crimea, all for a while.
• "The military presence in this country is much greater than that which has preceded the beginning of the conflict. And all of this goes on and on. "

  

ON THE EXTENSION OF THE MASTER OF THE OSCE SMM ON AZOV

• Volker claims that the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (OSM) concerns the Whole territory of Ukraine. And theoretically, this could include Ukrainian territorial waters.
• "The problem is that the mission has no way of doing it because it would need additional opportunities."
• "Another problem is that Russia is acting today, on its own account, unlike Donbass, where she believes she is not involved and uses the puppets, that she advances. the sea of ​​Azov and the Straits of Kerch, Russia acts openly and in its own name.Therefore, it is unlikely that the PMO (OSCE) could monitor and monitor the actions of Russia … [19659007] Another obstacle: the OSCE is acting in accordance with the principles of consensus and Russia will try to block the expansion of the work of the OSCE MSM in Azov, says Volker.

SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA FOR THE CRYSTAL OF KERCHEN AND THE PROHIBITION OF ITS SHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL PORTS

• "We have a set of sanctions on the Crimea, we have a set of sanctions imposed because of Russia's reluctance to apply the agreements of Minsk (on Donbass), and we said it was worth it to do in the Sea of ​​Azov.
• "The discussion at Ye the brine is whether it is the third part of the sanctions and if it is related to Crimea.But it is understood that there should be some sort of additional response , additional sanctions and a list of additional persons.
• "And it seems like it is making a commitment and I would not be surprised if this happens a month or two ago."

] ON SITUATION OF DONBASIS

• "Fighting lasts every night." According to Volker, Ukrainian positions are shelled with mortar fire, sniper fire, and artillery.
• "L & # 39, Ukraine embodies the Minsk treaties, but frankly, we have not seen any serious progress in the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons or the withdrawal of Russia. foreign fighters were not illegal armed formations dissolved. "
• " This conflict is only continuing. "