On 25 October 2018 in Strasbourg the European Parliament adopted the resolution on the situation in the Sea of Azov. The document points out that very serious concern is expressed about a very volatile security situation in the Sea of Azov, the continued militarization of the Sea of Azov and Black Sea region, particularly of the illegally occupied and annexed Crimea peninsular, the development of anti-aircraft systems, and the redeployment of military and patrol vessels from the Caspian Sea.
The resolution deplores the excessive actions of the Russian Federation in the Sea of Azov against Ukraine. European Parliament condemns the excessive stopping and inspection of vessels going to the Ukrainian sea ports through the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, causing a significant negative impact on the local economy and led to a sharp decrease in the turnover of cargo of Ukrainian ports.
The Resolution condemns the construction of the bridge over the Kerch Strait which constitutes another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian Federation. The construction of the bridge limits the size of ships that can reach the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov.According to the Resolution,targeted sanctions against Russia will be reinforced if the conflict in the Azov Sea escalates further. The European Union reiterates its support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, reconfirms Ukraine’s sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula and its part of the Sea of Azov. European Parliament resolution is an additional argument for the protection of Ukrainian interests in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.