Nato leaves Black Sea exposed as Russia invades Ukraine

When Russia attacked Ukraine, the nearest naval vessel of a major Nato ally was in the Mediterranean. The last such ship from a major naval member of the Western military alliance left the Black Sea – an area roughly the size of California bordering Russia, Ukraine and Nato members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania – over a month ago.

A French warship completed a tour in early January and no major Nato naval ally has patrolled its waters since...