Ukraine requests Turkey to close Bosphorus and Dardanelles to Russian ships
The Ukrainian government has asked Turkey to restrict the passage of Russian warships across the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
Some news sources have reported that Ukraine has formally requested the Turkish government to restrict the passage of Russian warships across the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
According to the Tass news agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo .lu confirmed the request, saying that Turkey might close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles to warships, but that Russia had the right to use these waterways to return its fleet to its main bases.
He added: “To date, we have adhered to the Montreux Convention, but it is possible that we will take action against the parties to the war in which Turkey is not involved.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry had previously said, “Russia’s decision to recognize the separatist regions is a violation of the Minsk agreement and a violation of Ukraine’s unity and sovereignty.” “We reject Russia’s decision to recognize the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.”
However, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he would continue talks with his Russian counterpart on Ukraine and expressed hope that Moscow and Kiev would return to the negotiating table.
