According to RT, on January 18 local time, Ms. Maria Zakharova - spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry - declared that Britain and Ukraine will never have a place in the Sea of Azov.
The statement was made after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 100-year cooperation agreement on January 16. Through this, defense construction projects including military bases, logistics warehouses, and military equipment storage facilities will be considered for deployment and maintenance in Ukraine.
The two countries will also establish a maritime partnership, enhancing security in key maritime areas, including the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
Since the conflict with Russia broke out in 2022, Britain has been one of the most active countries in supporting Ukraine. Under the 100-year agreement, London pledged to provide at least $3 billion in annual military assistance to Kiev until the 2030-2031 financial year.
Also on January 18, Ms. Maria Zakharova said that London is trying to regain its foothold in these areas, and warned that it will "respond severely" to any expansion efforts by the UK and Ukraine.
The Sea of Azov is located southeast of Ukraine and southwest of Russia, connected to the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait. It is a small, shallow sea located between the territories of southeastern Ukraine and southern mainland Russia.
Since 2022, after the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions voted to join the Russian Federation, the Sea of Azoz has become part of Moscow's territory.
In an interview, Ms. Maria said that the agreement between the UK and Ukraine has no meaning for Russia, and commented that this strategy of Kiev is to turn Ukraine into a new colony of the UK.
On January 17, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also expressed concern about the above agreement, but emphasized that the Sea of Azov belongs to Russia, so interaction between the UK and Ukraine in this area is almost impossible.
