Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said that Ukrainian ships are ready to join the initiative of the Black Sea flotilla.

"There is a corresponding Romanian initiative on the formation of the Black Sea flotilla in the Black Sea basin. It has been backed by several NATO countries. Ukraine is ready to take part in the flotilla (which was announced by the president of Ukraine). But this can happen only when a relevant decision is made," the minister told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

He noted that the aim of this initiative is to ensure security in the Black Sea. "The ships will patrol and maintain order. Our ships are ready to join as soon as a relevant decision is passed," Poltorak said.

The defense minister did not elaborate which Ukrainian ships he meant specifically, noting that the details will be discussed after a decision by the Alliance.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that Ukraine and Romania had discussed an idea of setting up a Black Sea flotilla under NATO's auspices, and Kyiv was willing to join this unit in light of Russia's actions, particularly Crimea's militarization. This initiative was discussed because the security situation in the Black Sea has changed radically.