ANKARA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States will send two warships to the Black Sea next week, Turkey said on Friday as Russia, which has beefed up its military forces near Ukraine, accused non-coastal NATO powers of increasing naval activity in the region.

Washington says Russia has amassed more troops on Ukraine's eastern border than at any time since 2014, when it annexed Crimea from Ukraine and backed pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbass region of Ukraine.

Violence has flared between Ukrainian troops and the separatists, spurring fears of a major escalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine on Friday of "dangerous provocative actions" in the Donbass region during a telephone conversation with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey, a NATO ally, said on Friday the United States would deploy two warships to the Black Sea from April 14-15.

"A notice was sent to us 15 days ago via diplomatic channels that two U.S. warships would pass to the Black Sea, in line with the Montreux Convention. The ships will remain in the Black Sea until May 4," Turkey's foreign ministry said.


The 1936 Montreux accord gives Turkey control over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, which connect the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. It also limits access of naval warships and governs foreign cargo ships.

NATO ACTIVITY

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko raised concerns on Friday over what he said was increasing Black Sea naval activity by powers that did not have a coast line in the region, an apparent reference to the United States.

"The number of visits by NATO countries and the length of the stay of (their) warships have increased," he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

According to a Reuters witness who keeps track of ships passing through Turkey's Bosphorus strait, the United States and NATO increased their presence in the Black Sea early this year, when U.S. President Joe Biden's administration took power.

The Reuters witness said the level had reached that seen in 2014-2015 at the time of the Crimea annexation.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was due to meet Erdogan in Turkey on Saturday on a previously scheduled visit.

Temitopemo6e6:
Hmmmm Ukraine engaging war against Russia is going to be a big mistake, their young president is not experienced and without good advisers. if Ukraine is the battle ground, Russia will occupy 1/3 of Ukraine as a buffer zone and the remaining 2/3 devastated. Russia still occupy lands seized from Finland, Japan Germany till today after WW2. US WILL DO NOTHING.

dochenaj:
Biden has been itching to kick Putin's ass.

We are watching the drama.

I just hope Putin will respect himself and stay in his territory.

stanluiz:
Putin is becoming the aggressor. He want to bring back the Old Soviet Union by annexing some former Soviets states that boarders Russia.

That why some former Soviets states joined NATO because of Russia aggression.

Let see whether Uncle Sam will protect it Ukraine Ally . But Ukraine is not yet a NATO member and Russia threaten military action if they should join NATO. Thats why Russia deployed About 20,000 troops near Ukraine Russia border.

dermmy:


Russia is not trying to bring back the old Soviet Union they know that's not possible. Russia is responding to what it sees as NATO's aggressive expansionism and it will continue to use Grey-zone activities as instrument of statecraft to engage NATO and It is working.

stanluiz:
Why do you think that makes some former Soviets states to join NATO ? It is because of Russia expansion and aggression.

Ever Since they annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. NATO them deployed troops to counter their aggression.

Everybody knows that Russia want to annexed Ukraine. Even Putin called Ukraine a little Russia. Russia should leave Ukraine alone a respect her sovereignty.

dermmy:


NATO betrayed Russia by starting the expansion process. In the 90's Russia cooperated with NATO, Russia was even pre-occupied with the rebuilding of its economy throughout the 90's so it didn't have time to engage NATO in any aggressive competition but every thing changed in 2004 when NATO absorbed the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia into the alliance.

dochenaj:
Biden has been itching to kick Putin's ass.

We are watching the drama.

I just hope Putin will respect himself and stay in his territory.

stanluiz:
Then why Russia try to invade Georgia in 2008 ? The problem is Russia have a bad relationship with its neighbors.

Everything about Russia is dictatorship and Totalitarianism. I don't blame the the Baltic state for joining NATO. Remember how Russia under the USSR invaded them in 1940 during the world war 2 in the name of fighting the Nazis.

Some of the political elites in the baltics we're killed and sent to gulag prison camp in Siberia.

Also remember the " Holodor" How Russia under Stalin starved millions of Ukraine to death. Russia used there military forces and Their KGB to oppress and enslaved Their neighbouring Countries they liberated from the Nazis during the world war 2 thereby making them no difference between them and the Nazis.

Russia has a very bad and hostile relationship with it's neighbors. If you know what they pass through under the USSR that was control by Russia , You won't blame them for joining NATO.

Newboss:
Actually both Russia and Ukraine are in their territories. In fact, they're next door neighbours. Guess who never fights in his territory? USA.

That has to change. Russia and China MUST balance the scale. There should be a well armed Russian and Chinese military base on the international waters just off continental US coast. That's the first step at getting US to back off.

dochenaj:
Ukraine is close enough to being US ally. And if Russia attacks Ukraine, US is obliged to help defend Ukraine. That's what alliance is about.