We need to make sure that there is no doubt that the Black Sea is something which is not dominated by one country, Russia. Such a statement NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made during the joint press-point with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

“I think we have to understand that the Black Sea is of strategic importance for NATO and the NATO allies, our littoral states, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, and then we have two close and highly valued partners in the region; Ukraine and Georgia. At the same time, we have seen a significant Russian buildup in the Black Sea, not least with the illegal annexation of Crimea, and also with more naval presence in the year.

NATO has increased its presence in the Black Sea region with more naval presence, just over the last few weeks we had actually three US naval ships deployed in the Black Sea, and also some of them exercising and training with the Ukrainian Navy.

We have more air policing presence in the air, and also on land with more NATO troops, training, and being active in the region. So, NATO has increased its military presence in the Black Sea region, because we recognise the great strategic importance of this region for all NATO allies but also of course for our close partner, Ukraine.

We have a Romanian led Multinational Brigade, based in Craiova, in Romania. And we are also stepping up our support for our partners, Ukraine and the Georgia, including with some support, help to their different maritime forces, including the coast guards and the last time I visited the Ukraine, we went to Odessa, we saw the Naval Academy in Odessa where actually NATO provides support to Ukraine by helping to train personnel for their Navy.

So, NATO is present in the Black Sea region. We work with Ukraine. And we are constantly looking into the need to adjust our presence there and because we need to make sure that there is no doubt that the Black Sea is something which is not dominated by one country, Russia, but actually, where we see freedom of navigation, and international law applies“, - said Jens Stoltenberg.