Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to NATO Vadym Prystaiko has said a Dutch NATO ship intends to enter the Black Sea.
“If you read the official statement of the U.S. Defense Department about the entry (of the dock-landing vessel USS Fort McHenry on January 6, 2019, into the Black Sea), then it’s possible to understand that the ship is there to support allies and NATO partners. There are three NATO allies in the Black Sea: Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and two partners – Ukraine and Georgia. So, it’s understandable why the U.S. Defense Department is sending the ship,” Prystaiko told the 112.Ukraine TV channel on Jan. 8.
Prystaiko said the Netherlands, also a NATO member, plans to send a ship to the Black Sea, as well, he added referring to the Royal Netherlands Navy’s air defense and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen, which got underway from its homeport in Den Helder on January 5 to become the flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2).
Prystaiko noted the increased intensity of the entry of NATO ships into the Black Sea. However, according to him, there is a doctrine in the Black Sea that sets the number, tonnage and time of stay of warships here, which limits the number of NATO ships in the Black Sea.
“Therefore, such a rotational principle occurs: some have entered, others have left,” he explained.
Prystaiko said entering the Sea of Azov is complicated, firstly, because of its shallow depth. The second reason, he said, is because Russia said it would not permit warships to enter the sea.
