KYIV. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has demanded the unconditional release of the Ukrainian sailors detained by the Russian border guard in the Kerch Strait on November 25.
"We call on the Kremlin to release the Ukrainian sailors immediately and without any preliminary conditions, immediately return the seized Ukrainian military ships, fully reopen the Kerch Strait to shipping in accordance with international law, and deoccupy the Sea of Azov by unblocking the operations of the Ukrainian ports there," Poroshenko said at a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite in Kyiv on Friday.
Grybauskaite said that Russia must abide by international agreements that regulate shipping in the Sea of Azov and ensure the unhindered use of the Kerch Strait.
"We would like to remind everyone once again that the Sea of Azov is not Russian territory and that all international agreements apply to this sea. Like all other countries, Russia must abide by these international agreements. If it doesn't, we will always help and support Ukraine and will increase our military presence. We need to ensure unhindered traffic in the strait. [...] and we must honor all agreements related to international waters," she said.
"We urge our international partners to use tough sanctions to stop Russia's aggressive encroachments in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and ensure freedom of navigation in the region," Poroshenko said.
"We know today that international organizations have not adopted any sanctions over Russia's actions. We have adopted our own national sanctions to protest Russia's actions in the Kerch Strait," Grybauskaite said, adding that the sanctions also apply to private individuals, who cannot engage in economic and other activities in Lithuania, "and they will thus be held responsible for the attack" on the Ukrainian ships.