KYIV. Nov 5 (Interfax) - During the North Atlantic Council (NRC) visit to Odesa on October 30 NATO declined an offer of a meeting between its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Ukrainian sailors who were detained in Russia and released in early September, according to the Ukrainian Mirror Weekly newspaper (ZN.UA).
"According to ZN.UA's information, the Ukrainian side offered to arrange a meeting between Stoltenberg and the sailors freed in Russia, but the alliance declined," the publication said.
"Sources said that most opposition came from France which did not want to irritate Russia with a meeting which Paris thinks could 'undermine the peace process and negatively impact on the preparations for the Normandy talks," the ZN.UA website said.
In November 2018 three Ukrainian Navy ships crossed into the Russian waters of the Black Sea in an attempt to enter the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait. The ships were impounded and the crews arrested. A criminal inquiry was launched.
All 24 Ukrainian sailors returned to Ukraine in September as part of a 35/35 prisoner swap between Moscow and Kyiv.
The sailors have been provided with homes in Odesa.