VIDEO: Ukrainian Diplomat Fights Russian Over Flag Theft.

Tussle Over Flag at Black Sea Economic Community Meeting

Russian and Ukrainian Diplomats Come to Blows

A meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Community in Ankara, Turkey, turned violent when a representative from Russia ripped the flag of Ukraine from the hands of a Ukrainian Member of Parliament. The Ukrainian MP retaliated by throwing punches at the Russian’s head before retrieving the flag. Bystanders intervened to separate the two men.

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation was established in 1993 to promote economic cooperation between countries in the region. Founding members included Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The group has since expanded to include Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year has strained relationships between the two countries.

Tensions at the Assembly

During remarks from a Russian diplomat, members of Ukraine’s delegation protested by shouting and waving a Ukrainian flag. The Ukrainians were also angered when a member of the Russian delegation addressed the assembly while wearing a St George’s ribbon, which they saw as a symbol of Russian aggression. The Ukrainians pushed away security personnel who tried to calm the situation, prompting the speaker of the Turkish parliament to eject them from the assembly.

Alleged Assassination Attempt on Putin

The tensions at the assembly come after Russia accused Ukraine and the U.S. of collaborating on an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin by sending two drones to the Kremlin. Moscow reported shooting down two drones that flew over the Kremlin earlier this week, causing them to crash into the building. The U.S. and Ukraine have both denied any involvement in the alleged incident.

“Mr. Peskov is lying, obviously. It’s a ludicrous claim. The United States had nothing to do with this. We don’t even know exactly what happened here,” said U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby. “We neither encourage nor enable Ukraine to strike outside Ukraine’s borders.”

• Russian and Ukrainian diplomats clashed over the flag of Ukraine at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Community in Ankara, Turkey.
• The Black Sea Economic Cooperation was established in 1993 to promote economic cooperation between countries in the region.
• Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been strained since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
• During remarks from a Russian diplomat, members of Ukraine’s delegation protested by shouting and waving a Ukrainian flag.
• Russia accused Ukraine and the U.S. of collaborating on an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin by sending two drones to the Kremlin.