The Russian Foreign Ministry swiftly criticized a multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze 2019 that will take place in the Black Sea.
“That’s a dangerous idea, and that’s the way we will view it. Prior to that, we will study the facts. They are viewed by us as a dangerous idea,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin on Thuesday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry views plan to conduct U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise in the Black Sea as a threat to stability in the region.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier confirmed plans to begin preparations for the joint Ukrainian-US exercises Sea Breeze-2019 scheduled to be held in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
“The international exercises will be held in the north-western part of the Black Sea, in Mykolayiv, Kherson and Odesa regions,” the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine reports.
According to commander of the Sea Breeze 2019 exercises from the Ukrainian side, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neyizhpapa, the activities of the exercises, draft scenario and training plan will be elaborated and finalized, and the control staff will be prepared for planning the operations in accordance with the NATO standards during the conference.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Sea Breeze is a U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise held in the Black Sea and is designed to enhance interoperability of participating nations and strengthen regional maritime security.
The exercise is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, strengthen combined response capabilities, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner nation forces to ensure stability in the Black Sea region.