KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Kyiv intends to ask that the Bosporus Strait be blocked to Russian ships following the events in the Kerch Strait area, Ukrainian Navy Commander Ihor Voronchenko said.
"I am sure that the global community will make a decision and acknowledge that there has been aggression against the state of Ukraine," Voronchenko said at the Second International Maritime Security Conference in Kyiv.
"Considering this and the norms of the Montreux Convention, namely Article 19, we will try to ask that the Bosporus Strait in the Republic of Turkey be closed, so that the Russians know what it is to violate international law," he said.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman told journalists later in Berlin that the West should take symmetrical measures against Russia over the blockage of navigation in the Sea of Azov. "Consultations are now taking place. We expect a very tough response to the aggressor from our international partners," he said.
"I am deeply convinced that the only right course of action is absolute reciprocity with regard to Russia. If Russia forbids free navigation, for instance, the entire civilized world should take symmetrical measures against Russia," Groysman said.