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Poroshenko: Release the sailors, Lavrov: Dangerous methods
INCIDENT IN BLACK SEA
Poroshenko: Release the sailors, Lavrov: Dangerous methods
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko demanded that Russia immediately frees Ukrainian sailors and ships seized in the latest incident in the Black Sea. On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukraine of using "dangerous methods" in the Kerch Strait.
At a session of the National Security Council, Poroshenko said that Ukraine demands that ships be returned to the Ukrainian side immediately and urged to reduce tensions in the crisis over Crimea.
The Ukrainian parliament today should decide on a proposal to declare martial law.
The Ukrainian Navy has accused Russia of firing on Ukrainian ships and hurting six crew members in the Kerch strait that separates the Crimea from Russia at the entrance from Black to the Azov Sea.
Lavrov has accused Ukraine of using "dangerous methods" in the Kerch strait, the day after an unprecedented incident after which the Russian navy seized three Ukrainian ships.
"There has been a violation of regulations and dangerous methods have been used. This could create and has created threats and danger for the normal movement of ships on that maritime route," Lavrov said, adding that it was a "provocation".
According to Lavrov, Kiev has violated "key provisions of international law, not only maritime", but also "the UN Charter, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and other documents of international law".