The situation in the Sea of Azov can escalate into an open conflict - this is what is feared in Strasbourg. “We are deeply concerned about the ongoing militarization of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea region,” the parliamentarians said. In particular, they drew attention to the fact that Russia has deployed an S-400 air defense system in the region, and also transferred ships from the Caspian Sea.
Also in the EP, they expressed regret that the water area is becoming "the sphere of military actions of Russia against Ukraine": allegedly Moscow intends to "turn the Sea of Azov into its internal lake" and appropriates Ukrainian oil and gas resources.
In addition, in Strasbourg, they condemned "the stopping and inspection of commercial courts - both Ukrainian and under the flags of third countries." The parliamentarians urged not to abuse the checks and not to carry them out for political reasons, since this contributes to "further destabilization of security, integrity and the socio-economic situation in Ukraine." The document calls for the immediate cessation of the "intensive and discriminatory inspections of the courts." Otherwise, the EU may "consider taking appropriate countermeasures." Russia's actions are assessed as "excessive" and violating international law of the sea.
At the same time, the European Parliament authorized the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy "to declare, in agreement with the member states, that sanctions against Russia will be strengthened if the conflict in the Sea of Azov escalates."
Not without a duty mention of support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In Strasbourg, they also did not fail to “confirm the sovereignty of Ukraine over the Crimean peninsula and its part of the Sea of Azov”. Condolences in connection with the tragedy in Kerch, where 20 people were killed during the attack on the college, parliamentarians also expressed not Moscow, but Kiev - all according to the old scenario.
Deputies recalled about the Crimean Bridge. The construction of a transport crossing, laying of a gas pipeline and submarine cables without Kiev’s consent are described as “another violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian Federation”. The resolution states that this structure "had a negative impact on the environment" and "lowered the sea level in the strait." Parliamentarians are also concerned that European companies participated in the construction of the bridge.
However, in Strasbourg, all the same, they paid attention to the fact that Kiev initiated the termination of the friendship treaty with Russia and created a naval base on the Sea of Azov, transferring additional forces to the region.
In the dry residue, parliamentarians called for the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission operating in the Donbass to the whole territory of Ukraine, including the coastal areas. They also proposed the appointment of a separate EU envoy for the Crimea and Donbass issues.
Moscow reaction
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, described the resolution of the European Parliament as "another propaganda card that is being played by our Western colleagues." “Statements by American representatives, European representatives, have now reached the European parliamentarians - they are all identical, they are not based on some factual basis, they are an example of political propaganda,” she noted. According to her, the adopted document is "a new, fresh (propaganda) theme."
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