Russia Urges to Abandon Sea Breeze 2021 Multinational Exercise in Black Sea

The Russian Federation called on the United States and NATO countries to refrain from holding joint Sea Breeze 2021 multinational exercises with Ukraine in the Black Sea.

The Embassy of Russia in the United States noted that the exercises were allegedly aggressive in nature, did not meet the real security objectives of the Black Sea region, and “increase the risks of unintentional incidents.”

“The problems that arise in this region can be solved by the Black Sea states without ‘imposition’ of external help,” Russian diplomats said.

As a reminder, Sea Breeze is the military exercises held in Ukraine since 1997 in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in the field of defence and military relations between the Ministries of Defence of Ukraine and the United States.

Since the beginning of Russia’s aggression in Donbas and the occupation of Crimea, as well as Russia’s actions in the Black Sea region, these exercises have taken on a new meaning.

The other day it was reported that a record number of countries would take part in Sea Breeze this year – 32 countries from six continents. In particular, it is planned to involve 32 ships, 40 aircraft, about 5,000 troops, and 18 special operations and diving squads in military maneuvers.

Bohdan Marusyak