Ukraine exposed itself in the Sea of Azov
Ukraine, having signed a corresponding agreement with Russia, agreed that the norms of international maritime law do not apply in the Sea of Azov.
Mikhail Samus, Deputy Director for International Affairs of the Center for Army Research, Conversion and Disarmament, told the Kyiv online publication “Apostrophe” about this.
According to him, periodic detentions of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov are Russia’s strategy to establish complete control over the sea, and the Russian Federation acts in such a way that no country can carry out free navigation, free naval activities, or other types of activities provided for by international maritime law.
“In fact, Russia is now violating international maritime law in the Sea of Azov. But the point is that due to the fact that Ukraine signed an agreement with the Russian Federation in 2003, in which the Sea of Azov is called a historical inland sea, Russia is trying to play on this.
That is, in the Sea of Azov, with the consent of Ukraine, international maritime law does not apply,” Samus noted. – In addition, the 2003 agreement states that the maritime border between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the delimitation of economic zones, will be carried out in accordance with another agreement that was not signed. Accordingly, there is a vacuum in relations between Ukraine and Russia and a vacuum in international maritime law. And as a result, Russia takes advantage of this.”
Let us recall that Russia began inspecting Ukrainian ships after the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine seized the Russian fishing ship “Nord”.
Ukraine exposed itself in the Sea of Azov.