The U.S. Navy operates regularly in the Black Sea, but a deployment of warships would now send a specific message to Moscow that the U.S. is keeping a close eye, officials said.
The US must give 14 days notice of its intention to enter the Black Sea under a 1936 treaty that gives Turkey control over the strait to enter the sea. It is unclear if a notification has yet been sent.
The Defense official also said that the navy continues to fly reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea to monitor Russian naval activity and any troop movements in Crimea.
On Wednesday, two U.S. B-1 bombers conducted missions across the Aegean Sea on Wednesday.
Although the U.S. does not view the gathering of Russian troops as positive for an offensive action, the official told CNN that “if anything changes, we will be ready to respond.” Their current assessment is that the Russians are conducting training and exercises and that intelligence has not indicated military orders for further action, the official said, but noted that they are well aware that this could change at any time.
The government of Biden and the international community have expressed concern about the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. In recent weeks, Foreign Minister Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Tony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have all been talking to their Ukrainian counterparts.
“We are concerned about the recent increase in Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including credible reports of Russian troop movements on Ukraine’s borders and occupied Crimea,” Ned Price said.
“We have asked Russia for an explanation of these provocations, but the most important thing we have directly conveyed to our Ukrainian partners is a message of reassurance,” he said.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said this week that it was important “for all parties to abide by the Minsk agreement” and that “Russia should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”
According to a German government spokeswoman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops to ease the situation.
According to a Kremlin reading of the call, Putin accuses Kyiv of ‘challenging actions’.