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Franco-Russian Conversation with Andrey Kortunov and Michel Duclos On 25 November, Russia seized 24 Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is the first open clash between the two countries since 2014. What does this mean? Will it escalate? What is to be expected from foreign powers? Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the ...
The US and the EU reactions were relatively moderate, no immediate new sanctions against Russia are likely to be introduced. A lot will now depend on whether Ukraine has an appetite for any further escalation or not. The Kerch Strait was a perfect place for escalating the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. There are no ‘red lines’ in the Sea of Azov, no OSCE monitoring missions, no entranced and fortified defense infrastructure like in Donbas. It was also a win-win situation for the Kyiv leadership. In case the Ukrainian vessels ...
... So it all falls within Russian territorial waters, if Crimea is accepted as being now part of Russian territory: a claim firmly made by Russia since 2014, but disputed by the West. Russia has recently completed an 18 km rail and road bridge over the Kerch Strait: a longheld Russian dream to join Crimea to southern mainland Russia. There is one navigable shipping canal at the centre of the bridge, 227 metres long, with 35 metres clearance under the bridge, enough for large ships. The shipping canal is kept dredged deeply ...
| U.S. wants to establish partnership relations with Russia on condition that it meets the U.S. requirements |
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| U.S. wants to deter Russia’s military and political activity |
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| U.S. wants to dissolve Russia |
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| U.S. wants to establish alliance relations with Russia under the US conditions to rival China |
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