What Happened Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and other NATO officials Feb. 14 in Brussels to discuss security issues related to the Black Sea. Following the meeting, Poltorak announced that NATO would significantly increase its presence in the Black Sea this year to help Ukraine improve its defense capabilities in the area, including "troops training, modern weapons and development of military infrastructure." He also added that "special attention will be paid to naval and air force capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces." Why It Matters The Sea of Azov and broader Black Sea area have been the site of escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia since a confrontation between the two countries in November 2018 . The standoff has enabled Ukraine to elicit greater political support from the West in recent months, particularly when it comes to increasing sanctions pressure on Russia.