Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking ‘to rebuild empire’

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of planning to rebuild “the old Russian Empire” in the midst of tensions between Kiev and Moscow over the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels in Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Azov.

Poroshenko made the accusation in interviews with German media on Thursday.

Russia’s naval forces intercepted and seized three Ukrainian vessels after they illegally entered Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov on Sunday. The Kremlin said the seizure of the ships was lawful because they were trespassing on Russia’s territorial waters off the coast of Crimea, which rejoined Russia in a 2014 referendum.

Kiev and its Western allies, however, have been attempting to portray that as an instance of Russian “aggression.”

“Putin wants to bring back the old Russian Empire. Crimea, Donbass... he wants the whole country,” Poroshenko claimed in remarks made to the Bild daily, Germany’s biggest-selling newspaper. “As a Russian emperor, as he sees himself, his empire cannot function without Ukraine, he sees us as a colony.”

The Ukrainian president also sought to drum up support from NATO states in the standoff with Russia, calling on Germany and the US-led alliance to send naval vessels to the Sea of Azov to protect Ukraine and its interests.

“Germany is one of our closest allies, and we hope that states within NATO are now ready to relocate naval ships to the Sea of Azov in order to assist Ukraine and provide security,” Poroshenko told the German paper, claiming that Russia “wants nothing less than to occupy the sea.”

Ukraine is not a member of NATO.

Poroshenko has introduced martial law in parts of Ukraine, something President Putin has voiced “serious concerns” about.

Putin has defended his forces’ actions in seizing the three Ukrainian ships last weekend in the Sea of Azov, saying, “They were fulfilling their military duty. They were fulfilling their lawful functions in protecting Russia’s borders.”

Russia, as well as outside observers, have said Poroshenko is attempting to provoke anti-Russia sentiments ahead of elections in March, which he seeks to contest.

SS