Security guarantees should include presence of allies in air and Black Sea – Foreign Ministry spokesman Tykhyi
The presence of allies in the airspace of Ukraine and the Black Sea is being discussed as part of security guarantees.
This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"Any long-term security should include an increased presence of our allies in the Black Sea and in the air. We are already talking about this with them at the talks and believe that this is a serious topic that needs to be discussed," Tykhyi said.
He noted that these security parameters could be discussed at the European Council meeting on March 6 and at some other meetings.
At the same time, Tykhyi cautioned that there are no specifics on the numbers, location and form of a possible allied contingent in Ukraine. Instead, there is a broad European discussion in which Ukraine is participating, and within its framework, different countries are expressing their opinions.
Speaking about the aviation component, the diplomat emphasized the importance of closing the skies in Ukraine, which "is no less, and maybe even more important, than ground troops on the ground."
"It is Russia's dominance in the skies that currently allows it to dominate the battlefield and continue to terrorize Ukrainian cities, communities and villages," the spokesman added.
"Control is quite possible. It has been carried out in many countries, and even the proximity of Russian aircraft or the front line is not an obstacle. Similarly, patrols are carried out in the skies over the Baltic...," the diplomat noted, mentioning Syria in this context.
