Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday (29 November) sought assistance from NATO members including Germany, asking them to send naval vessels into the Sea of Azov to support his country in the standoff against Russia, The Tribune has reported.

“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,” Petro told Germany’s Bild daily.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (28 November) had insisted that Russian forces were right to seize three Ukrainian ships last weekend.

Petro, however, accused that Putin wants nothing less than occupation of the sea. “The only language he understands is the unity of the Western world”, he added.

He, citing the example of Crimea and eastern Ukraine said, the “aggressive policy” of Russia is unacceptable.

“Germany, too, has to ask itself: What will Putin do next if we do not stop him?,” he added.

On Sunday (25 November), Russia had fired on three ships of Ukraine and later seized them. Russia accused that the ships had entered illegally into its waters in the Sea of Azov.

North American Treaty Organisation (NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg on Monday (26 November) had warned Russia of consequences and demanded that the Ukrainian ships and sailors be let free.