USS Howard (pictured) has made visual contact with the hijacked ship. Photo by BBC
Somali pirates who hijacked a Ukrainian freighter carrying military weapons have demanded 20 million US dollars in ransom despite being surrounded by foreign warships on Sunday.
US navy destroyer USS Howard has made visual contact with the ship but there is no indication that the ship is about to approach the MV Faina, which is carrying 33 T-72 battle tanks destined for Kenya's government.
A Russian navy vessel is also heading towards the region, media report.
Negotiations are continuing between the pirates and the owners of the Faina US officials said.