"Ukraine has initiated a negotiation process with partners in the Black Sea region to increase confidence, increase the number of exercises and training facilities," RIA Novosti quoted Zelensky as saying.
The Ukrainian leader expressed the hope that this initiative will find a response from the partners of the state, since the security of the region is of common interest.
Zelensky said that he discussed in detail with the NATO Secretary General cooperation between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Alliance in the Black and Azov Seas.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian leader, believes that Ukraine is seeking a military solution to its own problems under the guise of NATO exercises in the Black Sea, but this could provoke another disaster for the whole of Europe.
In turn, Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the NATO exercises in the Black Sea a challenge for Russia.