KIEV, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - The Ukrainian and US navies will take part in joint military drills called “Sea Breeze 2014” on September 8-10 in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
“From 8 to 10 September Ukrainian-American exercises ‘Sea Breeze 2014’ will be conducted in the northwestern part of the Black Sea… The objective of the training is an international operation on establishing and securing maritime safety zone in the crisis area,” the ministry said on its website Friday.
Aside from the United States and Ukraine, the exercises will include representatives from Georgia, Romania and Turkey. A total of 12 ships and supply vessels, as well as planes and helicopters will participate in the drills.
Sea Breeze exercises by NATO forces began in 1997, and have often been met with hostility by anti-NATO political forces in Ukraine.
NATO has been flexing its muscles near the Russian border since Crimea’s reunification with Russia in March. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over Western pressure on Russia.
