Ukraine is ready to control the situation in the Black Sea, — Neizhpapa
7.04.2025 - 11:14
Ukrainian forces have a complete picture of the presence of enemy ships at sea thanks to constant monitoring and cooperation with partners.
In the event of reaching agreements on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Navy will be able to guarantee control over its observance. This was stated by the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, in an interview with the Crimea.Realities project.
“It’s very simple. We are currently monitoring at sea. You see the Navy’s reports every day about how many enemy ships are at sea. We are monitoring the situation completely. Both we, the Air Force, and the intelligence forces, the Ministry of Defense. We have complete information about where, what is being done, and what is happening on the part of the enemy,” the commander noted.
He specified that Ukraine has its own intelligence system, and the allies have even broader and more technologically powerful monitoring tools.
Answering a question about the prospects for a ceasefire, Neizhpapa noted: “It depends on who wants to achieve what.” In his opinion, a ceasefire is possible, because “the military is following orders.”
“On the Russian side, of course, criminals, but they are military. On our side, of course, the Armed Forces, the Defense Forces — we are following the order that our leadership gives us. If the “Stop” command is given, it is carried out. If the “Stop” command is not given, we continue working,” the vice admiral emphasized.
Earlier, Neizhpapa noted that the mechanism for implementing a potential maritime ceasefire has not yet been developed. At the same time, Ukraine will consider any movement of Russian warships from the eastern part of the Black Sea as a potential threat.
Negotiations on the settlement of the situation in the region continued from March 23 to 25 in Riyadh. US representatives held separate consultations with the Ukrainian and Russian delegations. According to the White House, the parties, among other things, agreed to develop a mechanism for safe navigation in the Black Sea and a ban on attacks on energy infrastructure.
Moscow, for its part, claims that the maritime security regime should come into effect only after certain sanctions are lifted, but Washington has not confirmed this condition.
As USM reported, the day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia is refusing a ceasefire in order to maintain the ability to strike from the sea.
