September 18, 2018 | International, Naval
Ukraine plans new naval base as US offers more weapons sales
By JOHN VANDIVER | STARS AND STRIPES Ukraine announced plans to establish a naval base along the Sea of Azov, a move that came a day after the U.S. said it is mulling more military assistance for Kiev to counter Russia's actions. “This (base) will create conditions for rebuffing the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation in this region,” the Ukrainian government said in a statement on Sunday. U.S. military officials have been watching as tensions have increased in the Sea of Azov and the strategic Kerch Strait, which connects Ukrainian port cities to the Black Sea and from there to the Mediterranean. Since April, Russia has delayed the transit of hundreds of commercial ships attempting to sail through the Kerch Strait. Some security analysts have described Russia's actions as a de facto blockade. Full article: https://www.stripes.com/news/ukraine-plans-new-naval-base-as-us-offers-more-weapons-sales-1.547866