Kuleba: The Black Sea, like the Baltic Sea, should become a NATO sea

A comprehensive security strategy for the Black Sea region is needed, and the Black Sea should become what the Baltic Sea has already become - a NATO sea.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest, according to Yevropeiska Pravda.

According to the minister, the Black Sea is an example of how quickly things can deteriorate if threats are ignored, as Russia has been rattling its weapons in the region for years.

"Georgia, Ukraine, Syria, and Ukraine again - Moscow has launched one brutal attack after another. Many in the West have chosen to believe that the Russians have 'their own truth'. But the only truth is that Russia has always been preparing for a major imperialist war with the ultimate goal of holding another Yalta conference to divide Europe into spheres of influence," Kuleba said.

He regretted that the West did not have a consistent Black Sea strategy, while Russia has always had one: aggressive, revanchist, and barbaric.

The Minister recalled that Russia's first attempt at Ukraine's territorial integrity took place on the island of Tuzla in the Black Sea 20 years ago.

"At every step, Russia has acted where the West had doubts. When fear-driven caution closed NATO's doors to Ukraine and Georgia in 2008, Russia reacted quickly by attacking both countries. Russia was becoming a maniac, but some leaders decided that the best strategy was to keep the maniac happy. Including leaving its potential victims defenseless," Kuleba said.

Author - Olena Madiak, 13/04/2023