Another US warship enters Black Sea

US Navy frigate USS Taylor sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Black Sea in Istanbul April 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Another US warship has entered the Black Sea amid mounting tension in Ukraine, the Russian Navy said Wednesday.

"The US frigate Taylor passed through the Black Sea straits and entered the Black Sea on Tuesday," the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Navy representative as saying.

The Russian Defense Ministry's website, as usual, did not report the event, while a US Navy statement released Tuesday confirmed the ship's entry, saying it was "to promote peace and stability in the region" and its arrival was in accordance with the Montreux Convention.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has previously accused the United States of violating the convention, which restricts the number of vessels from non-Black Sea countries operating in the area and sets a time limit of 21 days for each stay.

The Taylor previously entered the Black Sea during the Winter Olympic Games in the Russian city of Sochi in February, but had to be towed to Greece after damaging a propeller in shallow waters.

Russia said the Taylor had exceeded the Montreux Convention time limit by 11 days during that visit.

Earlier this month, US destroyer Donald Cook also entered the Black Sea. During its mission, an unarmed Russian SU-24 jet fighter flew in close proximity to the warship 12 times.

The US military moves come as tensions in Ukraine remain high, despite last week's agreement in Geneva by the US, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union to urge all sides to refrain from violence, intimidation or provocative actions as part of initial steps to restore order in that country.