Canada condemns 'Russian aggression' toward Ukraine amid Black Sea standoff. Trump threatens NATO.

Trump boards Air Force One after Thanksgiving break

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan / Getty Images)

published 26 November 2018

On Sunday, Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels during a dispute involving the narrow Kerch Strait separating the Black Sea and the shared Sea of Azov. The incident could lead to a dangerous escalation of violence between Ukraine and Russia, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland condemned Russia's aggression on behalf of Canada, joining NATO and the European Union in urging a de-escalation of tensions and free passage through the Russian-blocked Kerch Strait.

In the U.S., neither Secretary of State Mike Pompeo nor the State Department issued a statement on the incident Sunday, and President Trump only tweeted one of his occasional warnings to NATO, falsely suggesting that the U.S.-Canadian-European military alliance is a club and the Europeans aren't paying their dues. Ukraine is not a NATO member, though the current administration is seeking membership.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.