15.06.2011
The Sea Breeze 2011 American-Ukrainian naval exercise currently held in the Black Sea cannot constitute any threat to Ukraine's neighbors, including Russia, said the spokesman for Ukrainian foreign ministry Alexander Dikusarov.
The exercise started on June 6 and will last till June 18. It is attended by somewhat ten countries. The subject is anti-piracy.
Russian Foreign Ministry earlier stated that
Aegis-carrying missile cruiser USS
Monterey entering the Black Sea to attend the
Sea Breeze 2011 Ukrainian-American naval exercise had aroused a number of questions. As for the foreign policy authority, those steps indicate the US still ignores Russia's concerns and demonstratively shapes the kind of missile defense configuration opposed by Moscow.
US State Department's official Mark Toner said on Monday that Washington treated the
Sea Breeze 2011 exercise a display of close cooperation between the US and Ukraine, and welcomed Moscow to hold by its own opinion.
"Ukraine is sure the
Sea Breeze 2011 naval exercise poses neither real nor potential threat to any of the Black Sea countries. None of the exercise's elements have anything common with aggressive actions endangering our neighbors", reports Ukrainian foreign ministry's website citing Dikusarov.
He reminded that Ukraine had invited Russia to attend that exercise.
"Such multinational military activities help to overcome illusory phobias and stereotypes inherited from the Cold War, and contribute to security in the Black Sea region so important for global stability. Hopefully, all our partners would proceed from this viewpoint", he said.
