Above we have a map of Russia and the Ukraine showing the sight of the latest altercation.

The Ukraine has declare martial Law after Russia seized 3 military vessels near the Kersch Straight. Under the terms of a 2003 agreement, the Azov sea and its access point through the Kerch Strait are supposed to be shared by Ukraine and Russia. In 2014 Russia took control of Crimea and the agreement has slowly been eroding away. Russia now controls both the East and West coastline of the Straight and has built what many believe is an illegal bridge across the straights.The kersch Bridge is a 19km bridge that now straddles the straights and connects Crimea directly to Russia.

Russia has upped the protection of the straights since the building of the bridge and this has directly lead to the current altercation between the FSB a Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and 3 Ukrainian navy boats. Interestingly a strong reaction against Russia has been declared by most members of the United Nations. Even the US Ambassador Nikki Haley has condemned the action by Russia. Mike Pompeo, The US secretary of state is quoted as saying

“The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters”

We are in for some interesting times in the months ahead. Analysts are saying with less pressure from the United States and with Europe’s reliance on Russian Gas, the European Winter coming on Russia is feeling embolden to press some of it’s nationalistic claims. The feeling amongst analysts is that Russia will back off as summer comes around again.