Ukrainian Navy Commander met with US delegation

22.04.2010 "We remember that the U.S. was our ally in fighting against fascism", said Vice Admiral Viktor Maksimov, Ukrainian Navy Commander during protocol meeting with American delegation. The meeting was held on Apr 20 after USS John L. Hall visited port of Sevastopol, reported FLOT2017 referring to Ukrainian Navy Press Center.

"The visit of American warship to Sevastopol on the eve of 65th anniversary of Great Victory is very symbolic, since our nations strived for that victory shoulder to shoulder", pointed out Vice Admiral Viktor Maksimov. "We keep in memory that the United States made a substantial contribution to defeat fascism and liberation of Europe".

Vice Admiral Viktor Maksimov also thanked the American guests for longstanding and fruitful cooperation between the two navies. He reminded that joint US-Ukrainian naval exercise Sea Breeze had been held since 1997; other Black Sea states are always invited to attend the exercise.

"Sea Breeze exercise became the first step towards participation of Ukrainian warships in Operation Active Endeavour being conducted in the Mediterranean", said Maksimov. "This morning our command and control ship Slavutich within international task force BL?CKSEAFOR sailed off Bulgarian port Varna heading for Romanian port Constanta; US warship in her turn called at Sevastopol. Again, this demonstrates confidence and cooperation between mariners, and promotes mutual understanding between our nations".

Cmdr. Hermann Pfaeffle, commanding officer of USS John L. Hall expressed the crew's wish to pay military honors and lay wreath at a monument to Soviet soldiers killed in the Great Patriotic War.

He also told about scheduled concert of US military band in downtown Sevastopol and invited trainees of Naval school for excursion over the frigate.

Among other American delegates was Cmdr. Michael Ruhsenburger, US Naval Attaché to Ukraine.