Germany 'greatly concerned' about Crimea crisis
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert reaffirmed Germany's support to Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity, which includes shipping rights in the Kerch Strait. Free access to the Sea of Asov must be guaranteed." He also called on Russia to return the seized ships and release the servicemen who were onboard.
"The developments around the Sea of Asov are extremely worrying," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday morning during a visit to Spain. "It is not acceptable that there is a blockade by Russia there. All one can do is call for de-escalation from both sides and I hope that this call, which will surely not only come from Germany, will be followed. We must end this war happening in our neighborhood."
Ukrainian envoys are to attend a special meeting of the NATO Ukraine commission in Brussels on Monday afternoon, which has been called at the request of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg also reiterated the alliance's commitment to Ukraine's "territorial integrity and sovereignty."
A regular meeting of Foreign Ministry officials from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine is also coincidentally taking place in Berlin on Monday. The so-called "Normandy Quartet" has been meeting regularly since 2014 to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine. "Of course this will also be used to work through the current situation," a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said.
(Meanwhile, Trump has used this incident to attack NATO for not ‘paying more money for U.S. protection)
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-greatly-concerned-about-crimea-crisis/a-46453390
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