KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2018) Ivan Vinnyk, a member of the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko has called for cancellation of the Russia-Ukraine agreement on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch.
"The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense at very very first meeting will take a decision regarding the deviation from the provisions of the agreement or its cancellation, so that international law could be implemented in full volume," Vinnyk said, as aired by NewsOne broadcaster.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure, between April 29 and July 9, Russia detained a total of 93 Ukrainian ships heading to Ukraine via the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, for inspection without specifying the reasons. As a result, the owners suffered losses because the ships stood idle. However, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olena Zerkal said that the Russian border guard officers acted in accordance with the protocol.
The relations between Russia and Ukraine have been tense since 2014 following the reattachment of the Crimean peninsula to Russia and Moscow's alleged involvement in the armed conflict in the Donbas Region in eastern Ukraine. Kiev refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the referendum held in Crimea and insists that the peninsula remains an integral part of Ukraine. Moscow repeatedly denied all accusations saying that the referendum was held in accordance with international law.
The Russia-Ukraine agreement on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch was signed in 2003. The agreement, in particular prescribes that mercantile vessels and other state non-commercial vessels flying the flags of Russia and Ukraine have free navigation in these waters.
