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Russian fighter planes fly over a bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula after 3 Russian naval ships were prevented by Russia from entering the Sea of ​​Azov through the Kerch Strait on 25 November 2018. REUTERS / Pavel Rebrov

German and French observers to monitor the Kerch Strait? This is the proposal made by Berlin, which has been accepted by Russia, according to the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov. Nearly two months after the very serious maritime incident off the Crimea, maritime traffic resumed in the Kerch Strait, but the situation remains tense between Russia and Ukraine.

With our correspondent in Moscow , Daniel Vallot

According to the head of the Russian diplomacy, it has been more than a month since the proposal is on the table. Sergei Lavrov claims that it was Angela Merkel who proposed to Vladimir Putin to send German observers to the Kerch Strait area . " Vladimir Putin immediately accepted, as well as the presence of French observers, " said Friday the head of Russian diplomacy after an interview with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, visiting Moscow.

The presence of foreign observers would undoubtedly ease tensions in the area that was the scene of a particularly serious maritime incident between the Russian coastguard and the Ukrainian navy. Nearly two months have passed since the incident, but Ukrainian seamen who were aboard Russian-boarded vessels are still behind bars.

The German Foreign Minister took advantage of his visit to Russia to demand their release. On this point, Russia remains uncompromising: the provisional detention of 24 men was extended this week until April.