US sends destroyer to Black Sea amid Ukraine crisis

Amid simmering tensions between Washington and Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine, US Navy officials say the destroyer, en route to the Black Sea, has been sent there on a “routine” deployment.

According to the US Navy, the USS Truxtun departed the Greek port of Souda Bay on Thursday to join training with Romanian and Bulgarian forces.

“While in the Black Sea, the ship will conduct a port visit and routine, previously planned exercises with allies and partners in the region,” the US Navy said in a statement.
Tensions between the US and Russia have intensified over the crisis in Ukraine.

On Thursday, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order to impose sanctions against individuals whom the White House said are “responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

During a speech at the White House on Thursday, Obama also said a referendum proposed by the parliament of Ukraine’s Crimea region over the future of the region “would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law.”