Russia said its plan to restrict movement of foreign warships will not affect the nearby Kerch Strait, RIA reported on Friday. This would be the latest example of its ongoing campaign to undermine and destabilize Ukraine," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news conference last week. "Russia has a history of taking aggressive actions against Ukrainian vessels and impeding international maritime transit in the Black Sea, particularly near the Kerch Strait. There are concerns Russia will use the restrictions to impede the passage of international shipping and put further pressure on Ukraine. The move was criticized by the European Union, Ukraine and NATO. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Russia's plan to close off parts of the Black Sea to foreign warships was illegal. Russia pulled back its troops from Crimea and the Ukrainian border last week. The move comes amid increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine. However, the annexation has never been officially recognized by the international community. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and claims the areas in question as its territorial waters. The ministry said the restrictions would apply to an area along the Crimean coastline between Sevastopol and Gurzuf, an area near the Kerch Peninsula, and a small area near the western tip of Crimea, according to Russian news agency RIA. Russia closed off several areas of the Black Sea to foreign warships on Saturday, according to Defense Ministry statements reported by Russian media. The restrictions are due to last from April 24 until October 24.
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