US, NATO Slam Russia Over Maritime Dispute With Ukraine

Haley: Russia violating Ukrainian sovereignty

Sunday’s maritime incident between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov has led to an emergency NATO meeting and a flurry of condemnations from the US and other member nations against Russia.

On Sunday, Russia seized three Ukrainian navy boats for entering a closed part of the Sea of Azov. Russia said the area was closed as part of a security effort, while Ukraine says the boats did nothing wrong.

At a UN meeting, Ambassador Nikki Haley condemned Russia’s actions as “outrageous,” and said they amounted to a “violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.” That does not appear to be the case, even in the Ukrainian government’s version of events.

NATO officials also expressed “full support” for Ukraine, and reiterated complaints about the 2014 Crimean secession from Ukraine, and subsequent accession into the Russian Federation.

German officials also issued a statement, saying it was “unacceptable” for Russia to block off its own part of the Sea of Azov, and that they consider the matter worrying.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.