Defense secretary offers some of the US’s strongest remarks yet after Russia seized three Ukrainian ships The US defense secretary, Jim Mattis, on Saturday blasted Moscow for the “brazen” violation of a treaty with Kiev and the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels. Speaking of a 2003 agreement governing the Kerch Strait between the Azov sea and Black sea, Mattis said Moscow had shown “brazen contempt and dismissal” for the deal “that allowed both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage”. Continue reading... |