MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a phone conversation having discussed the recent incident in the Kerch Strait, the Kremlin said on Tuesday in a statement.
The conversation was held at the German initiative, according to the Kremlin.
"[The parties] discussed the dangerous incident that occurred in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on November 25. Vladimir Putin gave assessment to the provocative actions of the Ukrainian party, made in blatant violation of the international law ... Serious concern over Kiev's decision to put its armed forces on full combat alert and introduce the martial law has been expressed. It was also pointed out that the Ukrainian leadership was fully responsible for creation of one more conflict situation and for the risks linked to it," the statement said.
According to the statement, the incident was linked to the presidential election campaign in Ukraine.
During the conversation Putin also expressed hope that Germany would exert influence on the Ukrainian authorities in order to prevent them from further ill-considered steps.
Putin added that the Russian Border Service was ready to provide additional details about the incident in the Kerch Strait.
