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(Topic "Point of View")
"Russia must allow a safe passage into the Kerch Strait, we want it to be done on a continuous basis," said German Foreign Minister Gayko Maas his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov replied that Russia was in agreement with the German proposal allowing German and French observers to enter the Straits of Kerch to monitor the freedom of navigation. It is unclear, however, what this international mission will look like: the support of Ukrainian ships crossing the Kerch Strait or a presence in its port, which could mean the effective recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea. This is what the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, calls a possible Russian manipulation of the monitoring mechanism.
Many Ukrainians and Westerners may be surprised that, following this disgusting provocation, a vice typed by the Kremlin in the Kerch Strait, and Putin and Lavrov continue to speak of freedom of navigation. But there is nothing surprising here. Russian leaders know for sure that they have violated international maritime law and bilateral agreements between Russia and Ukraine. According to bilateral agreements, the Azov Sea Basin and the Kerch Strait are considered to be "interiors" of Russia and Ukraine, that is to say that ships of the two countries – military and civilian – can swim freely in this water zone without the permission of each state. And the Black Sea basin, which captured Ukrainian ships, is an international water zone. The only technological opportunity to cross the Kerch Strait is not to obtain passage authorization, but rather to designate the passage time with the flight aid. Without this support from the Russians, the Ukrainian ships turned around and floated in the open Black Sea where they were attacked, which would be called banal piracy for two hundred years.
Meanwhile, Russian leaders were known – as during the occupation of Crimea. as at the beginning of the war against Donbass, which contravenes the rule of law.
However, it was important that the Kremlin shows who is the true master of the Black Sea and the sea of Azov. However, when it became clear that the protest was too expensive, for example by extending sanctions and abolishing the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, new ideas emerged: seize the opportunity to resolve the situation to compel Ukraine and the West to recognize the occupation of Crimea.
This is what Lavrov was trying to "float" at Maas in Moscow: we will avoid Ukrainian ships and open a mission to Kerch. And this is the continuation of the policy conducted by Moscow since 2014: you want us not "versions of essence" on the continent – recognize the Crimea. You want to solve the situation in Donbass – start direct talks with bandits, recognize "popular republics". For the Kremlin, the exacerbation of the situation is an opportunity to legitimize the aggression and the enthusiasm.
It is very important that the civilized world does not succumb to these manipulations.
Vitaliy Portnikov – Journalist and Political Commentator, Radio Liberty]
The opinions expressed in the "Viewpoint" section reflect the views of the authors themselves and do not do not necessarily reflect the position of Radio Liberty
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