On Tuesday 23 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini urged for the demilitarisation of the Azov Sea and for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
"A militarisation of the Azov Sea is in no-one's interest, and it can only destabilise the delicate security situation in the wider Black Sea region", she said at debate at the European Parliament. Mogherini stated that Russia had recently begun to deploy military vessels to the area "in significant numbers" and that Ukraine has "partially responded with an increased military presence".
"The Black Sea is a European sea, and we do not want to witness yet another military build-up in our immediate region", she said.
"Ukraine and Russia have signed a cooperation agreement (in 2003) on the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. This agreement implies that disputes between the parties are to be resolved through consultations and negotiations", Mogherini said, adding that she appreciated that Ukraine is seeking justice in international courts, "such as the ongoing case under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea" on Russia's multiple violations of Ukraine's rights in this sea.
Civil navigation is also complicated and has consequence on EU trade. Mogherini said that for the last six months Russia has been applying a new inspection regime for cargo vessels coming from Ukraine's ports in the Azov Sea, or heading towards them. "These inspections lead to long delays, which have increased dramatically over the past months. This has direct consequences on shipping costs, not only for Ukrainian exporters, but also for vessels flying a European Union member state's flag", she said. She added that more than 200 vessels under both Ukrainian and international flags have been affected by these controls by Russia, which in some cases have lasted several days.
A resolution on the Azov Sea is due to be put to the vote at the European Parliament on 25 October. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)