We don’t have sailing rights in the sea of Azov. It’s an internal water. By the same token, Russian warships don’t have any right to sail in the Great Lakes.
It’s all moot about the Azov. After Macron insulted POTUS at the WW1 commemorations and Merkel ranted again about an EU Army I suspect Trump has little interest in European issues at the moment. Merkel has also been stonewalling on NATO reform. The EU is basically an appendage of the Democrat Party at this point. Good riddance.
Saith Bully Putin. But the Sea can't be internal water just of Russia when much of it borders part of what, even Putin admits, is still part of the the Ukraine. International law says the Kerch Strait is a strait and navigation through it must be permitted. So send through a ship named for a Nobel Peace Laureate, laden with media who thinks that prize was deserved, and backed by the real politic strength of a President who knows better. Would Putin arrest the CNN embeds? Would he sink a scow named for Obama? He understands PR to well to do either.
And if Putin wants to sail up Niagara falls he's free to try it, but should be aware our environmentalist lawyers will quick to sue him for any damages done to them. And the locks around the falls are clearly not natural straits.