"NATO out" and "Yankee go home."

Ukrainians protest against U.S. frigate's visit

Around 500 people on Wednesday gathered in Sevastopol, the Ukrainian southern naval port, to protest a U.S. naval frigate's visit to the country.

According to the reports of local media, activists at the port shouted slogans like "NATO out" and "Yankee go home."

"We welcome all foreigners who come here as tourists, but we will not bear the U.S. frigate in our city," said Andrei Merkulov, one of the rally organizers.

The U.S. frigate arrived in Sevastopol on Wednesday morning, kicking off its five-day friendly visit to the country as part of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's international military cooperation plan.

The frigate will not take part in any military exercises, a Ukrainian navy statement said.

Last November, a U.S. warship cut short its visit to Sevastopol amid similar protests.

Russia signed a 20-year contract with Ukraine in 1997 to station its Black Sea Fleet. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for the fleet to leave Sevastopol when the lease expires in 2017. More

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