Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed concerns about a regional crisis should the conflict between Russia and Ukraine expand into the Black Sea.
Speaking at the annual Turkish ambassadors’ conference in Ankara, he emphasized, “If the war extends to the Black Sea, it would be a complete disaster for our entire region.”
This statement followed recent events where unmanned Ukrainian vessels targeted and damaged Russian naval assets near Crimea.
Erdogan cited the Montreux Convention, a 1936 treaty restricting the passage of belligerent warships through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, as a preventive measure against such regional escalations.
He pledged Turkey’s continued efforts to diffuse tensions between the two conflicting sides.
Moreover, Erdogan highlighted that the revival of the Black Sea grain trade agreement, signed a year prior in Istanbul but suspended recently, hinges on Western nations.
He recalled discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing Russia’s demands and expectations.
He mentioned Russia’s concerns about its inability to offload grain and fertilizers in European ports due to Western sanctions, despite such provisions in the agreement.
Erdogan remarked on the necessity of diplomatic efforts to transition from a positive trade atmosphere to lasting peace rather than further inflaming tensions.
He continues to advocate for Ukraine’s territorial integrity while refraining from sanctioning Russia.