Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Black Sea should not become “a place of reckoning” following Ukrainian and Russian attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks.
“The Black Sea should not be seen as a place to settle scores. A situation like this only harms Russia and Ukraine, it benefits no one. Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea. It must always be protected”said Erdogan.
These statements this Saturday, December 13th, reproduced on the official website of the Presidency of Turkey, were made by the head of state to the press on his return flight, on Friday afternoon, from the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, where he participated in a security forum and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan had already expressed his categorical opposition to attacks on commercial ships, calling them “inexcusable”, and last week the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the heads of the embassies of Ukraine and Russia to express their “concern” about the escalation of mutual attacks on merchant marine ships in Turkey’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
Despite this, on Friday a Turkish-owned, Panamanian-flagged truck transit ship, which was traveling between Turkey and Ukraine for the export of fruits, vegetables and textiles, was hit by a missile in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk.
On another note, referring to his meeting with Putin in Turkmenistan, Erdogan revealed that the situation in Ukraine was discussed and expressed his hope that the Russian president would make an official visit to Turkey “very soon”.
He added that his administration also maintains continuous telephone contact with US President Donald Trump, who he described as the person “responsible for the matter” in Ukraine.