Amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West, a Russian presidential aide says the United States plans to establish logistics centers in Black Sea countries to speed up arms supplies to Ukraine. 

“In the countries of the Black Sea region, the United States intends to create logistics centers to accelerate the supply of weapons to Ukraine, as well as to deploy modern long-range weapons,” Nikolai Patrushev, who formerly chaired Russia’s Security Council, said on Thursday.

At the Washington 2024 summit, the US-led NATO alliance demonstrated plans to increase its military presence and intensify confrontation in the Black Sea, the official added.

The Kremlin aide noted that Russia had successfully thwarted attempts by the Western military alliance to set up a naval base in the Sea of Azov.

He added that there can be no talk of unhindered passage to the ports of the Sea of Azov by ships of Western countries supporting Kiev.

“Given the aggressive nature of Western countries that directly support the Kiev regime in conducting military and terrorist actions against Russia, currently any unhindered passage of their ships to the ports of Azov is out of the question,” Patrushev emphasized.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Patrushev said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the development of advanced maritime robotic systems to combat unmanned vessels.

“The head of state outlined the directions for creating advanced systems and types of weapons, military and special equipment, including naval robotic systems and technologies to counter unmanned vessels,” he said.

Patrushev highlighted the need for a high-quality fleet that would surpass the technological capabilities of other maritime nations.

Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would consider any plans to establish a permanent presence of US-led NATO warships in the Black Sea as a threat, given the alliance’s involvement in the Ukraine war.

“Of course, the concentrated presence of NATO ships – we are paying attention to Bulgaria and Romania, the coastal states that are members of the (NATO) alliance – of course, this represents, especially in the current situation, an additional threat to Russia,” Peskov told reporters.

“Russia will take all necessary measures to ensure its own security,” he added. 

Senior officials in Moscow have repeatedly warned the US and NATO countries against arming Ukraine further, saying it will prolong the conflict and the ensuing pain.