Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned Saturday that the Black Sea should not turn into an “area of confrontation” between Russia and Ukraine after several strikes in recent weeks, Turkish Minute reports.
“The Black Sea should not be seen as an area of confrontation. This would not benefit Russia or Ukraine. Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea,” he was quoted as telling reporters aboard his plane, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
A Russian airstrike damaged a Turkish-owned vessel in a port in Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa, Kyiv and the operator said Friday.
The attack came hours after Erdoğan raised the issue personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan.
Erdoğan called for a limited ceasefire on attacks on ports and energy facilities in Russia’s war in Ukraine during the face-to-face talks with Putin, according to a readout from his office.
On the plane Erdoğan said he mainly discussed the war and peace efforts with Putin, Anadolu reported.
“Like all other actors, Mr. Putin knows very well where Turkey stands on this issue,” he said.
“After this meeting we held with Putin, we hope to have the opportunity to also discuss the peace plan with US President Donald Trump,” he added.
“Peace is not far away, we can see it.”
Turkey, which has sought to maintain relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war, controls the Bosporus Strait, a key passage for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil toward the Mediterranean.
In recent weeks, attacks have targeted Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea, some of which were drone strikes claimed by Kyiv.
The attacks drew criticism from Ankara, which summoned envoys from both Russia and Ukraine.
