…Sea Breeze is the largest multinational exercise in the Black Sea, and has always occupied an important place for the United States, which in turn reflects the strategic importance of the Black Sea region. But the importance of this strategic space grew substantially last year following the Russian invasion of Crimea, the illegal annexation and all of the events that have come from that development. So it is important that we are here today in Odesa, as the temporary home of the Ukrainian Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy, recognizing the United States’ ongoing and long standing commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
…I remember discussing Sea Breeze almost a year and a half ago when I was in Odesa, back with Admiral [Serhii] Haiduk on board the Hetman Sahaydachnyi, and we talked about the future of Ukraine’s naval forces.
Those were the first days after the Russian invasion of Crimea and the first weeks of the aggression in Donbas. In many ways this is a different country from the one that I was in at that time, and certainly a much more capable and robust Ukrainian military, a military that has been tested by battle, which has confronted one of the most egregious challenges to the fundamental principles of respect for international borders that govern international security. …

I want to underline to all of our Ukrainian navy partners the strong commitment of the United States to stand with the Ukrainian people as you work through a challenging and difficult time in your history. I want to offer special respect and honor to the men and women of the Ukrainian navy. We all remember… the courage that your sailors demonstrated during the invasion of Crimea, their dignity and courage in the face in an overwhelming Russian force. And today I would highlight the critical role that the naval land forces are playing in maintaining the defense of Mariupol, a city on the front line of defense against the combined Russian separatist forces.
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– U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt speaking on September I in Odesa at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Sea Breeze Naval Exercise, which involves
the naval forces of 11 nations. The text of his remarks was released by the Public Affairs Section
of the U.S. Embassy Kyiv.