Ankara, Dec 15 (UNI) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair a meeting of the Turkish Cabinet to discuss measures aimed at ensuring safe navigation and the uninterrupted transport of energy resources in the Black Sea, amid rising tensions linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The move follows a recent strike on a Turkish-owned vessel in Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, which Erdogan warned could turn the region into a “zone of confrontation.”
“The Black Sea should not be considered a zone of confrontation. This would benefit neither Russia nor Ukraine,” Erdogan told reporters aboard the presidential plane, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. “Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea.”
On Friday, a Russian air strike damaged the Turkish ship, drawing sharp criticism from Ankara. The attack came just hours after Erdogan had raised concerns about Black Sea security directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan.
According to his office, Erdogan urged a “limited ceasefire” covering attacks on ports and energy infrastructure in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Like all other actors, Putin knows very well where Turkey stands on this issue,” Erdogan said. “After our meeting with Putin, we hope to also have the opportunity to discuss the peace plan with US President Donald Trump.”
“Peace is not far away; we can see it,” he added.
Turkey has consistently maintained that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and has refused to recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Earlier this month, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said Ankara had issued warnings over attacks on tankers operating in the Black Sea within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.
On November 28, Turkey’s maritime authority reported that the Gambian-flagged tanker Kairos caught fire about 28 miles off the Turkish coast following an external impact. All 25 crew members were safely evacuated. A day later, the tanker Virat reported being struck around 35 miles off Turkey’s coast. The 20 crew members remained on board despite a subsequent attack by unmanned naval boats.
In late November, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of escalating tensions in the Black Sea, claiming that “the same forces that once disrupted settlement talks” were now behind what she described as “terrorist attacks.”
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said that it remains in contact with all relevant parties to prevent the conflict from spreading into the Black Sea and to safeguard Turkey’s economic interests.
UNI AAB