Russian Foreign Ministry encourages the UK and the Ukraine to work together. On Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry made clear. It came after a renewed 100-year partnership deal. This agreement was announced Thursday by Kyiv and London. The Kremlin sounded alarms Friday. They feared for British military assets in Ukraine. This worry was directed specifically at the Sea of Azov. Russia claims this sea as its own. The ministry repeated these concerns.
Zakharova on Interference
The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made a bold statement. She uploaded it to the ministry’s website. She said all claims to this area are unacceptable. Zakharova called it a gross interference in Russia’s internal affairs. Russia would vigorously oppose such steps. The Azov Sea is lapped by southwest Russia. It also shares borders with parts of southern Ukraine. Russia has captured these Ukrainian regions in the course of the war. The Crimean peninsula also sits on the Azov Sea. Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Russia Calls the Agreement Useless
Zakharova has also dismissed the agreement itself. She deemed it valueless to Russia. She called it “another Ukrainian PR campaign.” Zakharova echoed Russia’s perspective. She referred to the Sea of Azov as Russia’s internal sea. This substantiates Russia’s territorial claims. This position adds to the existing tension in the region.
UK Assistance to Ukraine’s Security
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed assistance. He pledged to coordinate with Ukraine and allies. Their mission will be for strong security guarantees. This will be the case if a ceasefire takes place with Russia. Starmer also gave further backing to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In exchange for this support, the deal was 100 years of partnership. The deal was reached during Starmer’s inaugural visit to Kyiv as prime minister. The deal covers a number of areas. These include enhancing military cooperation. This to bolster security. And specifically the Baltic Sea, as well as the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. This deepened partnership is a sign of ongoing UK support for Ukraine. It also increases the stakes in the war with Russia. This is a long-term commitment and represents a firm response to Russian aggression.” Another major flash point is the dispute over the Sea of Azov. It underscores the intricacies of geopolitical competition in the region.