China’s deputy U.N. ambassador Geng Shuang noted U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ commitment to make every effort to ensure that both Ukrainian grain and Russian food and fertilizer get to world markets. He expressed hope that Russia and the U.N. will work together to resume exports from both countries “at an early date” in the interest of “maintaining international food security and alleviating the food crisis in developing countries in particular.”
Archiv: Schwarzes Meer / Black Sea
China drängt Russland zu neuem Getreidedeal
Russland ist im Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen von seinem Verbündeten China, den Entwicklungsländern sowie den westlichen Staaten unter Druck gesetzt worden, eine weltweite Nahrungsmittelkrise abzuwenden. Die ukrainischen Getreidelieferungen müssten rasch wieder möglich gemacht werden, hieß es. Chinas stellvertretender Ständiger Vertreter bei den Vereinten Nationen, Geng Shuang, forderte eine baldige Wiederaufnahme der Ausfuhren von Getreide und Düngemitteln aus Russland und der Ukraine.
By pulling out of the Ukrainian grain deal, Russia risks alienating its few remaining partners
The Black Sea deal allowed Ukraine to ship 32.9 million metric tons of grain and other food to global markets. According to official data, 57% of the grain from Ukraine went to developing nations, while China received the most — nearly a quarter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that 60,000 metric tons of grain destroyed by Russia’s strike on the port of Odesa on Wednesday were bound for China.
China-Ukraine trade: amid Russian attacks in Black Sea, Beijing promises Kyiv negotiator it will boost imports
The commitment was made at a time when Moscow’s recent attack on Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea affected grain exports destined for China and damaged a Chinese consulate.
Beijing was ready to work with Kyiv to “actively” develop bilateral economic and trade cooperation, advance the strategic partnership between the two countries and promote study towards freer trade, China’s commerce vice-minister Ling Ji said on Thursday when meeting the visiting Ukrainian deputy minister of economy, Taras Kachka.
Russia to inspect ships in Black Sea if necessary — MFA
Russia wants ships in the Black Sea to be inspected to make sure they are not being used to carry weapons, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told a briefing on Friday.
Speaking about the statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense that Moscow will consider all ships that go to Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea as carriers of military cargo, Vershinin said: „What is meant there is that we must make sure of this, we must check if a ship is carrying something bad.“
Ukraine live briefing: Pentagon and Kremlin clash over Russian jets’ role in downing U.S. drone
– The MQ-9 was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission when it encountered Russian aircraft in the Black Sea region, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a briefing Tuesday. The Kremlin’s forces were not able to recover the MQ-9 — a drone with a wingspan of 66 feet — after the crash, Ryder said.
– Moscow blamed the incident on the U.S. drone’s “provocative” flight path, and denied that its jets made physical contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The drone “was moving deliberately and provocatively toward the Russian territory with its transponders turned off,” said Antonov.
Ende der Blockade – Getreide-Export beginnt: Erstes Schiff mit Mais verlässt Ukraine
Erstmals seit Beginn des russischen Angriffskrieges gegen die Ukraine hat wieder ein Schiff mit Getreide den Hafen von Odessa verlassen. Das mit Mais beladene Frachtschiff „Razoni“ sei Montag früh in Richtung Libanon aufgebrochen, meldete der Sender CNN Türk unter Berufung auf das türkische Verteidigungsministerium. Weitere Schiffen sollen folgen.
Russia attacks Odessa port a day after signing grain deal, Ukraine says – The Washington Post this really isn’t surprising to anyone is it????? Disgusting!?
Abscheulich! Die Glaubwürdigkeit war allerdings vorher schon nicht mehr da. #Russland #Ukraine #Getreide #Odessa
Moscow reveals target of strike on key Ukrainian port
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed striking targets in the major Ukrainian port of Odessa on Saturday, revealing that its missiles hit military infrastructure and arms stockpiles.
Russland gibt Angriff auf Hafen von Odessa zu
Nach einem Dementi hat sich Russland nun doch zum Angriff auf den Hafen von Odessa bekannt. Man habe auf „militärische Infrastruktur“ gezielt, teilte das russische Außenministerium heute mit. Der Angriff erfolgte gestern wenige Stunden nachdem die Kriegsparteien ein Abkommen zur Ermöglichung von Getreideexporten geschlossen hatten, das Angriffe auf Häfen untersagt.
Ukraine claims Russia targeted major port city
Moscow has so far remained silent on the latest claims from Kiev.
Russia attacks Odessa port a day after signing grain deal, Ukraine says
Air raid warnings rang at about 11 a.m. with the sounds of explosions echoing across the city. The military’s southern command reported no casualties. It said air defense systems shot down two other missiles in the attack, which the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine described as “outrageous.”
The strike threatens an agreement that diplomats had hailed less than 24 hours earlier as a breakthrough after months of negotiations.
Ukraine grain deal signed: Why it matters
While not all details of the agreement have been revealed, shipments from Ukrainian ports will begin in full in a couple of weeks, according to the UN. The ports will reportedly not be fully demined and the Ukrainian Navy and Coast Guard captains will be allowed to escort ships avoiding mined waters. Officials from Russia and other countries are expected to inspect the shipments to ensure no weapons are smuggled.
Istanbul initiative to unblock maritime agricultural exports from Ukraine must be fully implemented – UN Secretary General
The initiative for the safe transportation of grain and food products from Ukrainian ports, the documents on which were signed on Friday in Istanbul, must be fully implemented, UN Secretary General António Guterres said during the signing of the documents.
‚War will end at the negotiating table. This is a turning point‘: Ukraine and Russia sign grain export deal with Turkey and UN in first breakthrough of the conflict
– Russia and Ukraine sent defence and infrastructure ministers to Istanbul, Turkey
– They signed the landmark deal alongside U.N. gen sec and Turkish president
– The accord opens the way to significant volumes of vital commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny
– Russia had been blockading the ports, preventing essential grain from leaving
– The deal, seen by many as the first breakthrough in the conflict, comes after almost six months of war
Historic deals for grain corridor signed in Istanbul
Ukraine and Russia, two neighboring countries in war since February, have signed two historic deals with Türkiye and the U.N. for the creation of a secure food corridor through the Black Sea under a comprehensive plan, dubbed the Black Sea Initiative, that would prevent a major global food crisis.
Ukraine and Russia signed two memorandums of understanding with Türkiye and the U.N. on July 22 to begin exporting their grains and other food products.
Russian Black Sea Fleet commander ‚shot dead by Ukrainians‘ in battle for Mariupol
Andrey Paliy, the deputy commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is the sixth top military figure to die during the invasion of Ukraine, after he was killed in battle around Mariupol.
U.S. Deploys F-16s to Bulgaria for Yet Another Black Sea Exercise
The F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft arrived from the Aviano Air Base, Italy, which was employed for NATO’s bombing campaigns in Bosnia and Kosovo, and airmen from the 435th Combat Training Squadron and the 4th Combat Training Squadron deployed from Ramstein, Germany where both U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and NATO Allied Air Command have their headquarters. The latter two share a commander, as do NATO as a whole (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) and U.S. European Command and U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO.
Russisches Militär feuert Warnschüsse in Richtung britischen Zerstörers
Nach Angaben des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums hatte das britische Marineschiff um 11:52 Uhr Ortszeit die russische Grenze überquert und fuhr drei Kilometer weit in die Küstengewässer am Kap Fiolent auf der Krim. Die Halbinsel wird vom Vereinigten Königreich nicht als russisches Land anerkannt und für „illegal besetztes ukrainisches Gebiet“ gehalten.
Der Zerstörer wurde im Voraus über den eventuellen Einsatz von Waffen im Falle einer Verletzung der russischen Staatsgrenze unterrichtet. Eine Reaktion auf die Warnung blieb jedoch aus.
Schwarzes Meer: London dementiert russische Warnschüsse
Das russische Verteidigungsministerium sprach von einer Verletzung russischer Hoheitsgewässer durch einen britischen Zerstörer und Warnschüssen. London dagegen wies diese Darstellung zurück: Die „HMS Defender“ sei lediglich auf einer „friedlichen Durchfahrt durch ukrainische Gewässer“ gewesen.
Russian jets and ships target British warship
Our correspondent, who had been invited aboard the ship before the incident happened, describes more than 20 aircraft in the skies above the British ship – and says two Russian coastguard boats shadowed the vessel, at times just 100 yards away.
Russia claims the illegally-annexed peninsula and its waters are its territory, but Britain says its ship was passing through Ukrainian waters.
US Mulls Sending More Warships to Black Sea To ‘Send Message’ to Russia
The feature mentioned that U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea, crisis or no crisis, but that dispatching additional warships to the sea would “send a specific message to Moscow that the US is closely watching.”
Türkei geht gegen Admiräle wegen Erklärung zu Bosporus vor
In der Erklärung bekennen sich die Unterzeichner zum Vertrag von Montreux, der die Durchfahrt durch den Bosporus und die Dardanellen – also die Meerengen zwischen Schwarzem Meer und Mittelmeer – regelt.
Turkey slams admirals‘ warning over Bosphorus treaty
Top Turkish officials on Sunday lashed out at an open letter signed by more than 100 retired admirals warning about a possible threat to a treaty governing the use of Turkey‘s key waterways.
Turkey‘s approval last month of plans to develop a shipping canal in Istanbul comparable to the Panama or Suez canals has opened up debate about the 1936 Montreux Convention.
NATO, Ukraine to strengthen security cooperation in Black Sea
„The Black Sea region is of strategic importance to NATO and to all Allies … We work closely with our valued partners, Georgia and Ukraine. Therefore, NATO maintains a significant presence in the Black Sea region and will work more closely with Ukraine and Georgia,“ Stoltenberg said during a press conference on Monday.
U.S. missile destroyer USS Donald Cook heads for Black Sea
U.S. Navy ships regularly patrol in these waters in support of their NATO allies Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania and partners Ukraine and Georgia.
Turkey sends second drillship to Black Sea for mission
Turkey‘s drillship Kanuni sailed from Istanbul on Friday to the Black Sea to start its first mission, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez announced.
Romanian frigate returns to base from ongoing NATO mission amid mass COVID-19 infections
The frigate participated, starting on Oct. 27, in a NATO mission to monitor the naval traffic in the eastern Mediterranean, a mission that would end on Dec. 7.
Egypt, Russia to hold joint exercises in Black Sea soon — TV
In Novorossiysk, the delegations of the Russian Navy and the Navy of the Arab Republic of Egypt held a three-day conference on preparing and holding the joint exercise Bridge of Friendship -2020.
US Control of Alexandroupolis Port Will Not Help To Protect Greece From Turkey
Selling a port of strategic importance to US companies, coupled with the availability of the facility for US and NATO troops, is raising many questions in Greece. The Mediterranean country remains only one in two countries surveyed in NATO where the civilian population is not in favor of the alliance and only 36% of Greeks view the US favorably
US-Kontrolle des Hafens von Alexandroupolis wird nicht dazu beitragen, Griechenland vor der Türkei zu schützen
Der Verkauf von Häfen ist aus Gründen der nationalen Sicherheit und Souveränität äußerst riskant. Die Privatisierung von Häfen bedeutet die Deregulierung von Staatseigentum und die Übertragung aller Funktionen und Transaktionen auf den privaten Sektor anstelle der staatlichen Sicherheit. Was wird geschehen, wenn ein ausländischer Investor wie die USA in die Verwaltung der Häfen in der Ägäis eingebunden wird, die eine unersetzliche Rolle für die Grenze und die nationale Verteidigung Griechenlands spielt, insbesondere in einer Zeit, in der die Türkei ihre Kriegsrhetorik gegen Griechenland verstärkt?
As Defender 2020 drill winds down, US Army plans for 2021 edition
“We’ve been continuing to look forward now that we’ve gained some confidence that we can train large-scale, collective [military exercises] in this environment,” Bernabe said. “We’ve been looking further and further forward. As we speak, we’re planning exercise Defender Europe 2021, to take place in the late spring, early summer of 2021, focused in the Black Sea and Balkans.”
Georgian, NATO vessels conduct joint naval exercise training
Georgian Coast Guard vessels “Ochamchire” and “Dioskuria” and the Italian flagship ITS VIRGINIO FASAN, Canadian HMCS FREDERICTON, Bulgarian BGS VERNI, Romanian ROS REGINA MARIA and the Turkish TCG SALIHREIS participated in the joint naval exercise training.
Interesting since the start of the #Trump – #Ukraine scandal and the the Impeachment all USAF intelligence flights over the #BlackSea and Ukraine have disappeared. Not a single flight in the last days
US transfers patrol boats to Ukraine as military aid takes center stage during impeachment hearings
The U.S. has transferred two Island-class patrol boats to Ukraine and plans to send three more to help boost the country’s navy, which is heavily outgunned by Russian forces.
USS Porter departs the Black Sea
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) began its southbound transit from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 18, 2019, after a scheduled port visit to Golcuk, Turkey, and conducting maritime security operations in the region.
Denied Iran‘s Oil, Syria Has Few Options But Russia
(07.07.2019)
The Syrian government has two big oil-producing friends, Iran and Russia. With the routes from the first apparently closed, it may have to turn to the second. This presents a new host of potential risks. Impounding an Iranian ship in the Strait of Gibraltar is one thing. Stopping a Russian ship in the Aegean Sea is quite another.
Laut Geheimdienst: Ukraine setzt russischen Tanker fest via @faznet
Ukraine Detains Russian Tanker as Black Sea Tensions Flare
It seized documents and questioned the crew. The ten сrew members — all Russians — on the small oil-products carrier were later released, though the ship will remain, the Russian embassy in Kiev said, according to RIA Novosti. Ukrainian officials couldn’t immediately be reached to comment on that.
NATO ships exercise in the Black Sea
(19.07.2019)
Over 2,000 forces and 27 ships are taking part in exercise Breeze 2019 in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian-led maritime exercise, which began on 12 July, involves forces from 12 NATO Allies – Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.
The National Maritime Exercise Breeze 2019 Has Begun – 12 NATO Countries Will Participate
The military exercise will last until July 21. The military headquarters based in Varna has named the zones of the military exercise in the Bulgarian aquatory and the exclusive economic zone of the Black Sea.
Twelve allied countries participate at the exercise with 27 warships and cutters, 5 planes and 6 helicopters. A total of 2,257 military men from Bulgaria, Albania, Belgium, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Canada, Poland, Romania, the USA, Turkey and France, as well as the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and the Standing NATO Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) participate at Breeze 2019 military exercise, BNR reported.
Tender „Werra“ auf dem Weg ins Mittelmeer
Der Tender soll als Operationszentrale für den internationalen NATO-Stab genutzt werden