MOSCOW, April 2 (RIA Novosti), Daria Chernyshova - A US plan to send a warship into the Black Sea proves Washington is pursuing its interests in the region, while punishing Russia and seeking revenge, believes Vadim Kozyulin, a senior research fellow at the Russian Center for Policy Studies.
"International law provides a possibility to send a warship. The move is one of several measures to punish Russia for its actions in the Crimea," Kozyulin told RIA Novosti. "Sending a warship to the Black Sea won't help to create security, on the contrary it will be an irritation factor for Russia and its neighbors in the Black Sea. This is also a proof that the US is seeking a sort of revenge, but not dialogue," Kozyulin added.
The military expert also noted the move is a reminder that the US is pursuing its own interests in the Black Sea and wants to promote them, while influencing Russia over its stance on the Crimea.
The Pentagon is considering deploying a warship into the Black Sea and sending a small group of soldiers to Europe. The move is widely seen as part of NATO's effort to bolster ties with allies in Eastern Europe who are worried about Crimea joining Russia.
In military terms, however, sending one warship does not constitute a credible threat. Alexander Goltz, a Russian military expert and the deputy editor-in-chief of the independent online magazine Yezhednevny Zhurnal, believes the US move is merely waving a flag. "In military diplomacy such actions are not regarded as a threat," he told RIA Novosti.
"The US is not planning to form a squadron. And sending just one warship proves the US is not planning on military actions - one warship cannot do anything, but show its flag," Goltz said.
Ministers of the 28 NATO member nations met in Brussels yesterday, vowing to support a long-term partnership with Ukraine, and suspending all practical contacts with Moscow following Russia's reunification with Crimea, which the West considers an occupation and annexation.
