/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/madsack/LRTW64CI6BHF3NSYFJKREJS3A4.jpeg "OSCE sees the danger of escalation with Russia in the Black Sea")
Wien. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) calls for confidence-building measures to limit tensions in the Black Sea. OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid said in Vienna on Tuesday that all sides should be as transparent as possible about their military activities.
A confrontation between a British warship and a Russian fighter jet as well as a sea maneuver had recently drawn international attention to the Black Sea region. “Every incident can get out of hand,” said the German OSCE chief.
USA and Ukraine maneuvers
The US-Ukraine-led maneuver began on Monday not far from the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Moscow sees the exercise as a provocation. Last week a British warship sailed into the sea area around the Crimea claimed by Russia and was displaced with warning shots and bombs.
Ukraine: Merkel and Biden warn Russia
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From Russia, the dismantling of the latest troop reinforcements in eastern Ukraine can be expected, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Wednesday evening. © Reuters
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Swedish Foreign Minister and current OSCE Chairman Ann Linde described the tensions as part of “worrying developments” in the Ukraine conflict. In recent months, the ceasefire has been violated more and more often, the rhetoric has become more aggressive, and Russia has taken unusual military actions, said Linde in Vienna.
The OSCE states, which include both Russia and the US, should have held their annual security conference from Tuesday to discuss these and other hot spots. However, it had to be canceled because Armenia did not agree to the agenda.
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