'Stay Away From Our Coastline' Says Russia to US on Black Sea

U.S. destroyer Donald Cook has been sent to boost “capability” of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and partners in the region, a Russian senator warns. “They should keep away from our coastline.”

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“U.S. warships are becoming frequent visitors to the Black Sea. These visits have nothing to do with U.S. security,” said Russian Senator Alexander Pushkov.

The USS Donald Cook destroyer, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is the second warship sent by the U.S. government to the Black Sea in no less than two weeks stoking tensions with Russia.

The destroyer began its voyage in the Dardanelles Strait en route to the Black Sea on Jan. 19, “Our arrival into the Black Sea will showcase the Navy’s interoperability in pursuit of common security objectives, enabling us to respond effectively to future crises or deterring aggression,” said Comdr. Matthew J. Power, who is the commanding officer of the U.S. warship.

“They flaunt their flag, send us a signal, and appease their own senators, who are demanding they send a whole military fleet to the Black Sea. They should keep away from our coastline,” said Pushkov.

In early January, the U.S. sent another warship to the Black Sea. In response, the Russian government dispatched a patrol vessel to closely monitor it. U.S. ships are allowed to transit in the body of water for a period of 21 days.

In 2018, six U.S. military ships carried out missions in the Black Sea.

Tensions have recently been on the rise in the Black Sea because of an incident between Ukrainian warships and Russian patrols at the Kirch strait, in which the Russian navy shot at the vessels to induce them to stop what they alleged were dangerous maneuvers aimed to cause a provocation.  

This incident caused a diplomatic spat between Russia on one side, and Germany and France on the other. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov dismissed statements by the two European leaders accusing it of using military force and carrying out illegitimate checks on Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea.

“We are forced to address our partners again so they give up the double standards and pay attention to the authentic problems and threats that their pupils in Kiev are creating for European security and stability,” the official statement argued.