The Green Bundestag member Manuel Sarrazin has just returned from a trip to Ukraine. He not only visited the capital Kiev, but also the city of Mariupol on the Azov sea that has been suffering from the conflict with Russia. Because all of the ships, the control of the Mariupol, you have to pass the Strait before Moscow annexed Crimea. In November, the Russian forces had blocked the passage into the sea of Azov, from time to time and prior to the Crimea three Ukrainian naval vessels applied. Since then, 24 Ukrainian sailors, in spite of international protests, in the Russian prison. A member of the Green left in Mariupol by the port Director to explain that each ship will be detained at the Strait of Kerch, one to three days. The longer a ship is traveling, the more expensive it will be for the shipping company. “This is a type of hybrid warfare, to weaken the confidence in the development of the Ukrainian ports,” said Sarrazin to the daily mirror.
German proposal is deemed to have little prospect of success
the conflict on the Azov sea, had been proposed by the German foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD), to send German and French observers in the Strait of Kerch. This idea of the Minister, submitted in January with his counterpart in Moscow and Kiev. Officially, both welcomed the German Initiative. However, Russia wants to conclude no agreement with Ukraine on such an observer mission. For Ukraine, in turn, questions of sovereignty are concerned, if the observer should negotiate on the violation of international law annexed the Crimea with the Russian authorities.
“the Russian policy of harassment against Ukrainian ships, you have to send observers,” said Sarrazin after his visit in the Ukraine. In the port of Mariupol is to be conducted on all temporary detention. “You can just leave the list out of Mariupol”, said the Green member of the German Bundestag.
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to order At the same time, Sarrazin warned the conflict. “A small incident in the Azov sea could lead to a resumption of the war in Eastern Ukraine.”
Some EU States want more pressure on Moscow
The Maas proposed an observer mission to other European countries, not far enough, you want to increase within the EU, the pressure on Russia. In the last week, the Czech and the Danish had travelled foreign Ministers together to Mariupol. If the Ukrainian sailors would be released, the EU should be ready “to test new, targeted sanctions against Russia,” called for the two Ministers in a joint statement. “Russia has to ensure a free passage through the Kerch Strait with the Azov sea and its harassment of ships to stop on the way in the Ukrainian ports.”
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On 18. February want to advise EU foreign Ministers on the situation in the Kerch Strait and on the possible further steps. It should also go to financial assistance for the Ukrainian Region on the Azov sea. This could help the port cities in the medium term, Expansion of important road and rail connections.