US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch notes that the construction of the bridge across the Kerch Strait by the Russian Federation hampers the implementation of transport communication between Ukraine and international markets.
Russia’s continued construction of the Kerch Bridge significantly limits the delivery of cargo to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, which are important gateways for the transportation of Ukrainian coal, metal and grain on the way to important international markets, Yovanovitch said, speaking at the International Conference on maritime security in Kyiv on Nov.28.
She also said that the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation has led to Ukraine losing 70% of its navy.
The ambassador added that Russia continues to illegally use Ukraine’s gas fields in the Black Sea.
Russia has seized two Ukrainian gas platforms that continue functioning in Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, thus continuing to steal Ukrainian gas, the diplomat said.
Yovanovitch said that the Ukrainian border guards and the Ukrainian naval forces, as well as the coast guard, continue working to prevent these challenges and eliminate their consequences.
