Türkiye calls for moratorium on strikes against vessels in Black Sea

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that Türkiye has called on Ukraine and Russia to impose a moratorium on strikes against merchant vessels in the Black Sea.

Source: Fidan in an interview with Anadolu

Details: Fidan said that the conflict had spread across the entire Black Sea, noting that while attacks had initially targeted ports and warships, merchant vessels were now being targeted indiscriminately. He added that a mechanism needs to be established to allow for a moratorium on such attacks.

According to Fidan, Türkiye has called on Ukraine and Russia to establish a mechanism for declaring such a moratorium on attacks against vessels in the Black Sea.

He noted that Ukraine had already put forward a relevant proposal, which Türkiye had passed on to Russia, and that Ankara was awaiting Moscow's response.

Commenting on the prospects for ending the war, Fidan acknowledged that neither side is inclined to make concessions while they still have the ability to continue military operations.

In his view, once both sides have become exhausted, they will conclude that they need to sit down at the negotiating table and reach a peace agreement.

Background:

• Earlier this week, Türkiye called on Russia and Ukraine to take measures to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea after a Turkish-owned vessel was damaged in a drone attack near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, leaving three crew members seriously injured.
• On the night of 28-29 May, Russia carried out a targeted strike on a Turkish vessel travelling from a port in Odesa Oblast to Türkiye, causing a fire on board.

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