Russia Responds to 'Threat' of NATO Warships in Black Sea

Russia on Thursday said that it would consider any plans by Ukraine to establish a permanent presence of NATO forces in the Black Sea a "threat."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks at a press conference, responding to questions about a decree signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday on his country's new maritime security strategy.

The strategy seeks to ensure "readiness, comprehensive and effective prevention and response to threats to the maritime security of Ukraine arising in coastal areas, in its maritime spaces, as well as other areas of the World Ocean to which the economic and other interests of Ukraine extend." Among other measures, it proposes "ensuring the permanent presence of NATO forces in the Black Sea."

Tensions between Russia and the West have remained high throughout President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv's forces have targeted Russia's Black Sea Fleet as Zelensky vows to recapture the Black Sea peninsula Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Putin in 2014.

NATO member states have granted Ukraine permission to use Western weapons to strike inside Crimea, and Moscow has accused the alliance of involvement in the war.

"Of course, the concentrated presence of NATO ships—we are paying attention to Bulgaria and Romania, the coastal states that are members of the [NATO] alliance—of course this represents, especially in the current situation, an additional threat to Russia," Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"Of course, Russia will take all necessary measures to ensure its own security," Putin's spokesperson added.

Newsweek has contacted Ukraine's Foreign Ministry and NATO for comment by email.

Zelensky said in a nightly video address to the nation on Wednesday that Ukraine's new maritime security strategy "takes into account changes in security and innovations that we have provided, in particular in the Black Sea, in the development of our forces."

Ukraine is implementing the strategy with its partners, Zelensky added.

"I am going to discuss the details of this strategy with [Ukraine's partners] in the near future, with those who, like us, want stable security for their regions and the whole world," the Ukrainian leader said.

Zelensky said earlier this month that Ukraine "clearly [understands] that the war has changed the balance of forces in our entire Black Sea region, and the Russian Fleet will never dominate this water area again."

"We are consolidating our interests, taking into account the new technological possibilities of Ukraine and our relations with partners," Zelensky added. "Ukraine will always be a state capable of protecting its own interests at sea, transport arteries, and the interests of our allies and partners."

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