Ukrainian President: Putin ignores request for telephone conversation about Kerch crisis
In an interview with France 24, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet responded to his request to have a telephone conversation about the crisis at the Sea of Azov. Poroshenko, reports the presidential press service.
The President of Ukraine stressed that when the attack on the Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait occurred, he instructed his officials to contact the President of Russia, Putin.
“Unfortunately, so far Putin has not responded to my request for a direct telephone conversation in any format — bilaterally, in Normandy format, with the participation of American partners, etc.,” said Poroshenko.
The President stressed that Russia grossly violated international law by attacking the Ukrainian military and closing the Kerch Strait while trying to block the entire Sea of Azov, "which is de facto an attempt to occupy Azov".
On November 25, Russian border ships attacked and captured two Ukrainian boats and a tugboat in the Kerch Strait. All twenty-four sailors on board were detained.
Ukraine regarded it as an act of military aggression and in response imposed martial law in ten border areas until December 26, 2018.
On November 27-28, the Kremlin-control court of Simferopol arrested all the captured Ukrainians until January 25, 2019. They are accused of illegally crossing the Russian border. On the evening of November 29, Russia began to transfer sailors from Simferopol prison to Moscow.