Despite relative calm ensuing in the area of the dangerous Nov. 25 Kerch Strait incident, Ukrainian officials have continued making media statements suggesting escalation could still yet be on the horizon. On Friday a deputy minister in Kiev urged the British Navy to send a warship to the Sea of Azov to test Russia’s response. The appeal came at a moment when the UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson met with Ukrainian officials to reiterate that “The UK is a steadfast partner to Ukraine as it faces illegal acts of aggression on its sovereign territory,” according to a statement, and as an unarmed UK surveillance ship, the HMS Echo, is deployed to the Black Sea.
A high ranking deputy minister involved in seeking the return of Crimea to Ukraine named Yuri Hrymchak, said on a televised political talk show on Friday, “When it is being said that Russia won’t allow the passage of a British ship, I have one remark – has anyone tried it?” — according to a translation of the provocative comments by RT. Moscow subsequently described the idea as “bonkers,” according to RT.
In late November, just days following the Russian seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels and their crew over what Moscow described as “performing dangerous maneuvers” in violation of a 2003 treaty ensuring shared access to the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov…
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