You're reading: Stoltenberg: Russia must immediately release sailors and ships, allow freedom of navigation in Azov Sea

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg again call on Russia to release Ukrainian sailors captured in the Kerch Strait, and to ensure safe navigation in the Sea of Azov.

“Russia must immediately release the sailors and ships they seized and allow freedom of navigation including free access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov. We strongly condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, which we do not and will not recognize,” Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Brussels on Thursday.

In turn, Poroshenko reiterated that Russia should release Ukrainian seamen without delay, ensure free access to Ukrainian ports and restore safe navigation in the region.

The president of Ukraine stressed that the situation in the Azov Sea and Black Sea was the key topic of his meeting with Stoltenberg.