Speaking on Ukrainian television, Yuri Hrymchak, a deputy minister in the country’s Government, suggested the British should send the vessel to test the Russian response. The Strait of Kerch was the scene of a confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian forces at the end of last month, when a Ukrainian vessel was rammed. A total of 24 Ukrainian sailors remain in custody in Crimea, the former region of the Ukraine annexed by Vladimir Putin’s regime four years ago.
Mr Hrymchak, who said: “When it is being said that Russia won’t allow the passage of a British ship, I have one remark – has anyone tried it?
“And it would be interesting to see how the Russians would react if this ship sailed in a caravan through the Kerch Strait.”
Mr Hrymchak also suggested since HMS Echo was a hydrographic survey ship with weapons on board, it was not bound by international regulations limiting the activity of navies belonging to non-Black Sea states in the region.
The website of Russian state television station Russia Today reported Moscow officials as describing the idea as “bonkers”.
Mr Hrymchak serves as deputy minister of temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons, with specific responsibility for securing the “future return” of Crimea from Russia to Ukraine.
Both sides blamed one another for the clash, on November 25.
Ukraine subsequently imposed martial law in the country, and Mr Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he hoped the German leader could use her influence to calm the situation.
A statement issued by the Kremlin said Mr Putin had “expressed a serious concern over Kiev’s decision to put its armed forces on alert and to introduce martial law.”
Mr Putin also said he hoped “Berlin could influence the Ukrainian authorities to dissuade them from further reckless acts.”
Officials in Moscow effectively dared Britain to follow Mr Hrymchak’s advice by underlining the risks of such action, with Russian Senator Frants Klintsevich saying it served as an indication of “how dangerous the current regime in Kiev is for the world.
He added: “This regime is descending deeper into a maniacal condition.”
Mr Williamson visited HMS, whose planned deployment to the Black Sea and Ukraine he accelerated, yesterday in what the Ministry of Defence described as “a clear demonstration of the UK’s unwavering support both to Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and freedom of navigation”.
The MoD statement, issued yesterday, added: “This followed the latest in a pattern of Russian hostile acts, the illegal seizure of Ukrainian vessels and 24 servicemen by Russia last month.”
Mr Williamson said: “The UK is a steadfast partner to Ukraine as it faces continued illegal acts of aggression against its sovereignty.
“HMS Echo’s deployment is a further demonstration of our resolute support and commitment to cooperate with the Ukrainian military.”
Express.co.uk has approached the MoD to ask whether the vessel was likely to be sent through the Strait of Kerch during its deployment in the Black Sea.