MOSCOW: The Kremlin stated on Thursday that Russia views any plans for NATO warships to establish a permanent presence in the Black Sea as a threat, citing NATO’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made this comment during a conference call in response to questions about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s new maritime security strategy.
Zelensky has emphasized the importance of preventing Russian Navy dominance in the Black Sea.
“Russia is closely monitoring the concentrated presence of NATO ships in Bulgaria and Romania, coastal states that are NATO members. Especially in the current situation, this presence represents an additional threat to Russia,” Peskov told reporters.
He added, “Russia will take all necessary measures to ensure its own security.”
